Thf^   Experiences    and   Opinions   of 
Georpe   v;ashinp;ton   from   Spirit   Life 

By 

Mrs.   M.    J.   Upham  Hendee 


\j.\ 


^ 


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THE 


EXPHRIBNCBS  AND  OPINIONS 


GE01{(iE  WASHINGTON 


FROM 


SPIRIT  LIFE 


S-A.2ST   IHR^AJNOISCO: 

1878. 


■J 

L 


THE 


HXFHRIENCBS  AND  OPINIONS 


GEOlKiE  WASHINGTON 


FROM 


SPIRIT  LIFE 


1878. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  main  contents  of  this  pamphlet  were  written 
by  Washington,  in  1868,  using  the  mediumship  of 
Mrs.  M.  J.  Upham   Hendee. 

The  preface  was  written  by  my  request,  in  May, 
1878. 

It  is  my  mission  to  give  it  to  the  world.  Like  its 
author  it  needs  no  introduction.  Every  page  bears 
the  impress  of  him,  who  in  earth-life,  was  noted  for 
truthfulness. 

It  comes  in  good  time  as  a  message  of  love-teach- 
ing of  the  spirit,  and  a  spirit-world  as  tangible  reali- 
ties, and  a  God  of  love  everywhere. 

..     .,.  ....  ,-.„-,-     T,  B.  CLARKE. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1373, 
By  Thomas  Brown  ell  Claeke, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


BF 
i^o  I, 


Communication  received  May  25th,  1878. 


My  dear  friend  of  earth,  how  »ladly  do  I  come  to-day,  and  hope  I  may 
impart  glorious  truths  which  I  have  been  permitted  to  learn  in  my  spirit- 
homo. 

Oh  I  how  earnestly  do  wo  from  our  home  of  lif,fht,  yearn  to  impress  you 
with  these  divine  blessinjifs,  for  we  know  it  will  be  a  threat  comfort  in  your 
earthly  homes  to  learn  that  earth  is  not  all.  but  another  is  i)repared  for  you 
wherein  you  will  live  and  enjoy  the  felicity  and  comi)anioiiship  of  loved 
ones  who  have  passed  from  you  to  an  unknown  and  silent  world,  and  to  be 
assured  that  they  are  livinjif  and  enjoyinir  the  privileji:es  and  happiness  of 
homes  with  all  surrouiidin<^  bhissing.  Yes,  dear  friends,  it  speaks  to  the 
souls  of  every  living  being,  and  lifts  them  above  darkness  and  doubt — taking 
away  the  sting  of  death — weaving  it  with  a  fur  more  glorious  life  beyond. 

My  great  desire  is  to  arouse  men's  minds  to  grow  into  a  beautiful,  trust- 
ing love,  that  the  Creator  doeth  all  things  well.  Every  spirit  who  comes  to 
this  blessed  world,  is  astonished  as  they  awake  to  the  wondrous  beauty  of 
this  new-found  home;  and  you  may  conceive  what  is  their  astonishment 
after  the  teachings  of  the  past. 

But,  thank  God  for  this  blessing  in  the  awakening  of  your  world  to-day, 
through  the  ministrations  of  his  angels  who  have  opened  the  door  for  mort- 
als, and  united  them  through  magnetic  currents  to  blend  souls  between 
the  two  w)rld3.     To  us  it  is  a  joyous  achievement,  for  we  know  of  what 
we  speak,  when  we  shall  succeed  in   the  full  meaning  of  our  mission  in 
giving  a  new  life  to  millions  now  in  darkness  and  fear;  and  you  need  not 
«»  wonder  that  angels,  who  have  risen  out  of  this   condition,  should  move 
en  heaven  and  earth  to  give  unto  man  a  true  knowledge  of  existence. 
*"      It  seems  to  me  that  this  truth  once  established  would  arouse  the  hearts 
>-  of  men  to  renewed  life  on  earth — cause  them  to  feel  that  there  was  some- 
^  thing  grand  to  live  for  besides  the  mortal  which  is  so  evanescent  and  fleet- 
Sa  ing  in  comparison  with  an  eternal  home,  ever  growing  brighter  by  unfold- 
Hj  ing  intelligences  reaching  out  toward  the  divine,  and  would  cause  the  old, 
7^z  -worn-out  garments  of  theology  to  be  cast  of  as  cuniberous  and  unclean. 
''f       Life  is  eternal,  and  its  joys  and  blessings  await  you  all,  and  though  you 
•  ■"  see  them  not,  it  will  be  proven  a  reality. 

The  two  worlds  are  shaking  hands,  and  soon  man  will  walk  in  the  image 
of  his  Maker,  blending  the  soul-world  with  the  mortal.  We  know  that 
you  cannot  see  us  ;  yet  we  are  with  you  in  love  and  truth,  and  happy  to 
see  so  much  interest  awakened  toward  us. 

As  this  will  be  the  last  opportunity  to  write  before  my  experiences  are 
given  to  the  world,  I  wish  to  say  that  it  is  a  truthful  account,  though 
only  one  of  tliousands  yet  to  be  given  to  the  loved  ones  of  earth.  May 
God  bless  you  for  this  i)rivilege  which  has  been  a  blessing  tliat  we  might 
give  another  from  our  beautiful  home  in  the  spirit-land. 

Youi's  fraternally, 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 


.'507625 


PREFACE. 


My  dear  earth-friends,  feeling  a  deep  interest  in  hamanity,  I  endeavored 
ten  years  ago  to  open  the  portals  of  life  to  those  yet  veiled  in  uncertainty 
concerning  their  future,  by  giving  my  experience  in  the  transition  to  and 
in  the  realms  of  spirit-life.  I  then  little  thought  my  message  would  lie 
unrecognized  so  long.  I  trast  higher  intelligences  have  overruled  for  greater 
good. 

On  awakening  to  these  heavenly  spheres,  I  found  them  in  all  their  asso- 
ciations so  unlike  what  I  had  been  taught,  that  I  could  only  feel  amazed, 
and  wonder  at  thi  ir  marvelous  beauty.  I  seemed  spell-bound  with  joy  at 
realizing  that  I  still  retained  my  individuality,  and  a  life  so  real  that  were 
it  not  I  saw  so  many  loved  ones  who  had  passed  on  before,  giving  me  such 
blessed  congratulations  and  welcome,  I  should  have  felt  myself  still  a  resi- 
dent of  earth. 

I  resolved  that  if  it  were  possible  to  open  communication  with  earth.  1 
would  devote  my  powers  to  that  end.  and  have  made  every  effort  to  the 
consummation  of  the  truth  of  angel  ministrations. 

Many  have  been  working  to  open  a  channel  of  communication,  often 
coming  to  earth  to  strengthen  the  power,  forming  magnetic  and  electric 
currents  whereby  we  could  connect  earth  and  heaven,  and  thus  give  proof 
to  mortals  of  our  identity  as  living  beings  who  once  were  mortals,  and  yet 
retained  their  selfhood.  Many  efforts  were  made,  before  we  gained  reco"'- 
nition,  but  when  the  glad  news  that  an  interchange  of  intelligent  commu- 
nication between  the  two  worlds  had  been  recognized,  the  joyful  song  rang 
through  the  vaults  of  heaven,  chanted  by  thousands  eager  to  sra-sp  the 
loving  hands  or  catch  the  whispering  sound  or  tiny  raps  which  should  brine 
the  dead  to  life,  and  open  the  gates  of  heaven  to  all. 

After  many  efforts,  I  succeeded  in  gaining  strength  to  control  this  me- 
dium to  convey  my  experiences  and  wishe.-;  to  those  in  earth-life,  uncertain 
of  their  future  destiny. 

Too  long  have  the  false  teachings  of  an  angry  God  and  an  eternal  hell 
consumed  the  best  thoughts  of  humanity,  cramped  the  divine  soul,  unfitting 
it  either  for  the  earth  or  spirit-life. 

Thousands,  to-day,  choose  darkness  and  uncertainty,  blinding  their  eves 
from  the  glories  of  heaven,  through  fear  of  an  impending  doom  pronounced 
by  wicked  teachers  of  dark  traditional  theology,  which  has  misconstrued 
God  into  a  demon  instead  of  a  loving  Father. 

But  those  terrible  dark  and  wicked  teachings  are  passing,  and  the 
teachers  are  now  wondering  in  bewilderment  of  their  delusions,  ignorance 
and  superstitions  in  view  of  the  higher  knowledge  of  right,  justice  and 
truth  coming  from  millions  of  ministering  angels  in  all  lands  and  tongues. 

'I'he  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  new  openings  will  be  made  which  will 
reveal  more  fally  the  truth  of  this  home  of  light  and  joy  to  mortal  sight; 
for  heaven  and  earth  are  now  working  in  unison  for  its  completion. 

I  must  now  bless  you  for  giving  to  the  world  this  faint  description  of 
our  blessed  home,  hoping  it  may  find  favor  with  all  honest,  earnest  seekers 
after  truth:  und  close  with  rny  fraternal  blessing, 

GEORGE  WASHINGTOX. 


SECTION  FIRST. 

Friends  of  earth-life,  in  coming  here  to  bear  my  testi- 
mony with  the  hosts  of  spirit  friends,  regarding  our  spirit- 
ual liome  and  its  natural  earth-life  condition,  gives  me 
great  pleasure  to  be  c^nabled  to  impart  a  knowledge  of  the 
experiences  of  one  whom  yun  have  known  us  a  resident 
n{)on  your  earthly  sphere. 

Having  passed  the  change  called  death,  I  still  find  myself 
a  living,  intelligent  beinir,  actually  alive  to  all  scenes  inci- 
dent to  earth-life,  yet  com]ireheiiding  a  fuller  and  happier 
condition;  finding  there  is  no  death  but  the  beautiful  change 
called  death,  to  be  but  the  birth  of  the  soul  into  realms  of 
spiritual  unfoldments;  where  like  children  born  into  earth- 
life,  we  feel  the  weakness  and  strangeness  of  our  situation, 
not  comprehending  the  wonderful  change  that  has  come 
over  us;  but  being  guided  and  strengthened  by  our  loved 
ones,  who  nieet  us  at  the  gateway  to  welcome  us,  yielding, 
trustingly,  Imiugly  to  their  protection;  becoming  strength- 
ened, we  learn  to  adapt  ourselves  to  the  conditions  sur- 
rounding us;  thus  we  gradually  become  ;i wakened  and 
strengthened,  until  every  fibre  of  the  soul  is  pulsating  with 
new  and  wonderful  emotions,  thrilling  with  joy  to  learn 
that  we  can  still  communicate  with  mortals,  and  impress 
them  with  our  presence,  and  that  we  still  can  assist  and 
guide  them  by  our  influence  and  teachings,  urging  them 
to  honesty  and  truthfulness  here,  as  passports  to  a  higher 
and  more  useful  life.  I  therefore  give  3'ou  ray  experience 
of  having  been  ushered  into  a  new  and  to  me  incompre- 
hensible state  of  existence,  so  unlike  my  idea  of  heaven 
as  described  to  ray  earthly  vision,  that  you  will  not  be  sur- 
prised at  my  astonishment. 

My  first  awakening  into  spirit-life  was  like  awakening 
out  of  sleep  on  a  bright  and  lovely  morning  in  June,  when 
the  freshness  of  flowers  and  the  music  of  birds  atune  all 
nature  to  harmony.  I  could  not  understand  where  I  was. 
I  was  filled  with  awe  at  the  appearance  and  grandeur  of 
the  wonderful  sublime  surroundings.  While  beholding 
these  things,  I  seemed  to  recall  the  past — to  realize  that  I 
had  passed  from  earth  and  must  now  be  in  heaven.  Can 
this  be,  I  said  to  myself;  and  yet  everything  is  as  natural 
as  in  earth-life.  How  strange,  how  wonderful  everything 
seenied,  so  like  earth  that  I  seem  to  doubt  my  senses,  and 
yet  I  know  that  I  must  have  changed — must  have  left  the 
form — for  I   })erceived  that  I  had   not  the  same  material 


bod}';  and  remembered  also  the  dear  friends  weeping 
over  me,  bidding  me  farewell;  and  said  surely  this  is 
heaven  for  which  I  had  so  often  prayed.  But  it  is  not 
so  great  a  change,  for  everything  is  so  real  and  life-like, 
that  I  shall  be  able  to  comprehend  its  locality  and  sphere, 
and  its  distauce  from  earth — for  it  is  no  longer  a  visionary 
heaven,  but  a  real  local  place.  While  these  strange 
thoughts  were  passing  through  my  mind,  I  seemed  to  be 
in  a  kind  of  pleasing  dream ;  partly  asleep  and  partly 
nwake.  While  thus  wondering  as  to  my  condition,  a  sweet, 
bright  vision  of  glorified  spirits  seemed  to  approach  and 
arouse  me  to  a  greater  fullness  of  my  condition  and  sur- 
roundinffs.  One  beautiful,  bright  spirit  came  out  from 
the  number,  and  extending  her  arms,  cried: ''  George,  my 
son,  you  have  come  to  me,  and  a  mother's  arms  can  again 
embrace  you — can  watch  over  you.  You  have  passed 
beyond  the  earthly phme,  and  are  now  in  spirit  spheres. 
My  dear  devoted  mother,  how  beautiful  she  seemed;  as 
natural  and  real  as  when  in  the  earth-form.  The  vision 
opened,  and  I  beheld  many  dear  earth  friend^ooming  near 
to  me;  many  a  one  who  had  passed  on  before — many  a 
loved  one  whom  I  had  seen  depart  to  that  unknown  bourn 
from  whence  no  traveler  returns  again  to  take  up  the 
form — but  who  1  find  do  take  form  of  spirit  matter  and 
return  to  visit  their  earthly  scenes,  and  hover  around  the 
dear  ones  left  on  the  earth  plane. 

My  first  awakening  to  consciousness  of  this  new  life, 
seemed  so  truly  natural  I  felt  a  delightful  happiness  per- 
vading my  being.  Tho.se  dear  angels,  whose  ministering 
kindness  aroused  to  cousciousness  my  feeble  spirit,  gave 
me  full  a'ssurance  of  a  continued  life  in  this  new  phase  of 
being.  Truly,  a  light  broke  in  upon  my  being,  a  wonder- 
ful change,  and  yet  I  lived  and  held  converse  with  those 
who  had  long  i)receded  me.  My  mother,  who  was  truly 
ray  guardian  spirit,  gave  me  into  the  protection  of  those 
who  should  assist  in  strengthening  and  arousing  my  self- 
sustaining  power  to  become  an  independent  being,  to  act 
in  the  great  drama  of  spirit  existence.  Thev  took  me  to  the 
most  lovely  scenes  ;  scenes  that  bewildered  ray  feeble  con- 
ception, and  yet  so  natural  that  I  could  only  wonder  at  its 
life-like  associations. 

At  this  time  I  felt  that  I  was  surrounded  by  a  host  of 
divine  beings,  but  upon  looking,  I  saw  many  of  my  dear 
friends  of  earth  rejoicing  at  my  coming — those  who  had 
passed  on  years  gone  by,  who  had  almost  passed  out  of 
my  mind,  had  now  come  to  welcome  me  to  this  new  home. 
Aged  friends  were  hefore  me  now  living  pictures  of  youth 


and  beauty,  robed  iu  pure,  celestial  garments  of  azure 
brightness.  They  had  come  to  welcome  me  to  this  bright 
sphere  and  bear  me  on  to  brigljt  and  heavenly  knowledge 
of  my  present  condition. 

How  my  soul  swelled  with  emotion  at  the  tliought  that 
all  were  here  in  this  beautiful  world,  and  no  one  cast  out, 
but  all  growing  brighter  as  they  become  acquainted  with 
the  true  laws  of  development. 

Truly,  my  first  knowledge  was  astonishment,  delight  and 
wonder  at  the  gorgeous  scenery  of  scintillated  light  from 
gorgeous  domes  above  —  with  flowers  whose  perfume 
wrapped  me  within  their  folds  of  sweetness — while  beau- 
tiful birds  of  every  hue  warbled  forth  their  strains  of 
music  in  such  sweet  tones  of  melody  that  1  seemed  to  lose 
myself  amid  so  much  loveliness  and  grandeur  that  1  slept. 

How  long,  1  have  no  knowledge.  1  was  awaked  by  a 
voice  saying,  "My  son,  1  wish  you  to  come  up  higher.' 
Looking  up,  I  saw  my  mother,  and  with  her  a  band  of 
angels  who  I  had  not  seen  before. 

These  were  a  band  of  martyrs  who  had  come  up  through 
great  tribulation,  who  had  fouuht  bravely  and  had  won 
the  crown  of  knoAvledge,  and  often  returned  to  earth  to 
minister  to  those  who  were  still  striving  for  liberty.  They 
hiid  been  with  us  in  our  dark  and  trying  moments  of  sor- 
row and  fear,  guiding  and  directing  us  through  the  peril- 
ous struggle  for  freedom,  and  had  inspired  many  a  feeble 
heart  and  nerved  many  a  palsied  arm  to  oppose  the  up- 
lifted blow  which  was  raised  to  crush  out  that  divine  spark 
of  freedom  that  burned  upon  the  altar  ot  our  souls.  It 
was  to  them  who  had  lived  and  died  for  that  great  boon 
for  which  we  were  then  contending,  that  they  had  come 
from  their  bright  home  to  assist  us  to  gain  that  freedom 
here  which  they  saw  and  felt,  but  could  not  gain  only 
through  the  dissolving  elements  of  the  flesh.  I  stood  con- 
founded, and  said  to  them  do  you  tell  me  then  that  we  can 
return  back  to  earth  and  become  ministeriug  spirits  to 
those  we  have  left  there'?  Truly,  my  son  said  an  aged 
sire,  such  is  the  truth,  and  we  have  come  to  you,  knowing 
your  sympathy  and  love  for  those  around  you,  and  your 
iini)ressibility  to  become  en  rapport  with  siich  as  have 
kind  and  ueuerous  natures  to  prepare  you  for  a  continua- 
tion of  the  mission  you  are  so  Avell  adapted  to  fill.  The 
love  of  your  countrymen  and  confidence  reposed  in  you, 
will  enable  you  to  do  much  good  for  the  advancement  of 
that  liberty,  that  generous,  confiding  love  of  brotherly 
kindness  which  you  so  generously  manifested  while  sus- 
taining  and   upholding  them   in  their  great  struggle  for 


freedom.  Tnily  this  is  joy  unspeakable  to  know  that  I 
may  still  be  permitted  to  return  to  earth  and  mingle  again 
in  the  scenes  I  have  loved  so  well — this  is  joy  indeed.  I 
now  understand  why  heaven  is  such  a  beautiful  place,  and 
why  angels  are  so  happy  in  it — because  they  can  partici- 
pate in  all  that  has  made  life  happy;  a  continuation  of 
blest  associations;  a  continuation  of  a  renewed  life  to  do 
good  and  receive  good;  to  be  givers  and  receivers.  What 
a  wonderful  lesson  to  the  soul,  that  to  be  happy  we  must 
impart  our  good  gifts  to  others,  that  they  may  be  bene- 
fitted so  as  to  benefit  others  again — a  divine  law  of  the 
Almighty;  tlie  more  we  tiive  the  more  we  receive.  I  per- 
ceive the  overshadowing  wisdom  of  this  great  lesson.  How 
did  my  soul  bound  with  delight  to  know  that  I  could 
again  be  permitted  to  help  the  down-trodden  and  suffering 
of  earth.  I  was  truly  blest  with  such  heavenly  rays  of 
light  breaking  in  upon  my  yet  infant  senses  as  it  were, 
that  I  seemed  to  forget  those  divine  beings  who  surrounded 
me,  and  who  quietly  took  me  to  a  gorgeous  home,  when 
again  I  lost  mvself  in  repose. 

On  awakening  from  this  strengthening  sleep,  1  felt  invig- 
orated and  refreshed,  ready  to  go  forth  to  new  duties,  my 
mind  being  filled  with  joy  unspeakable  at  the  wonderful 
developments  that  were  transpiring  in  this  new  transition. 

Again  an  angel  stood  before  me,  and  told  me  to  follow 
him,  as  I  did  so,  he  wafted  me  through  wondrous  scenes 
of  changing  life,  over  mountains,  whose  majestic  slopes 
and  towering  heights  were  grand  beyond  description, 
passing  through  flowery  valleys  whose  running  streams 
and  cooling  shades  invited  to  rejiose. 

Before  us  lay  a  lovely  valley,  whose  bosom  was  real 
with  sweet-tinted  mosses  and  flowers  of  every  hue.  Just 
as  we  neared  an  elevation  of  gently  sloping  hills,  we  be- 
held grottoes  and  mansions  of  pearly  brightness,  dazzling 
in  the  sunlight. 

A  bright  angel,  too  lovely  for  description,  stepped  before 
us,  pointing  upwards.  We  raised  our  eyes,  and  beheld 
a  charmed  circle  above  shedding  rays  of  light  and  beauty 
around  us.  Hlie  spoke,  and  then  1  saw  the  sweet  linea- 
ments of  a  departed  friend,  who  had  passed  away  long 
years  before — one  who  had  enchained  my  heart  in  my 
early  youth,  when  the  brow  was  clear,  and  sorrow  had 
not  set  its  seal  on  my  brow  of  care.  She  stepped  or  glided 
forward,  extending  her  hand,  saying,  "Welcome,  friend, 
welcome  here.  I  have  waited  long  for  you  as  a  dear,  friend 
from  my  earth-home.  That  band  you  see  coming  are 
dear  friends  of  our  early  associations.    Your  presence  has 


drawD  them  liore  to  \velcorae  you  to  this  new  life  ;  they 
will  take  you  hither  to  show  you  their  beautiful  sphere, 
when  you  have  become  more  awakeued  to  your  new  sur- 
roundings." 1  lived  again  through  the  past — the  long  past 
that  hati  not  returned  to  me  in  many  years — all  seemed 
fresh  now  as  when  I  wandered  over  the  bright  scenes  in 
m}'  youthful  happiness.  Can  this  be  possible,  I  said,  that 
I  meet  you  again  more  beautiful  than  before — truly,  this  is 
real,  this  is  heaven,  more  of  heaven,  more  of  joy  than  the 
one  we  pictured  in  our  earthly  life — for  does  it  not  give  us 
all  of  our  brightest  our  happiest  realities  here  again,  full 
fresh  in  the  embodiment  of  life,  to  be  forever  blessed — for- 
ever progressing  and  elevating  one  another. 

This  bright  spirit  said  "Follow  me."  She  turned  into 
a  gorgeous  palace,  where  I  beheld  in  an  arched  room  con- 
stellated with  gems  of  rarest  beauty,  an  art-gallery  of 
l)aintings  of  our  noblest,  our  most  illustrious  men  and 
women  of  earth  life,  many  who  we  would  not  fiml  in  the 
galleries  of  earth  paintings,  but  who  were  known  by  soul 
teaching  to  be  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  soul  world. 

Wealth  or  position  had  not  brought  them  here,  but  the 
true,  living  soul  that  worked  itself  out  in  humility,  ignoring 
suffering  for  the  truth  they  would  not  deny. 

Could  you  see  the  soul  speaking  through  the  expression 
of  the  eye,  you  would  wonder  that  they  had  been  neglected 
while  in  earth  life.  Truly  here  was  fit  study  for  inspira- 
tion, living,  breathing  life  startling  out  from  those  angelic 
Avorks. 

After  viewing  these,  we  were  ushered  into  another  room 
or  arched  dome,  whose  sides  were  tilled  with  works  of  art 
and  scientific  lore — the  sages,  the  poets,  the  painters, 
sculptors,  j)liilosophers,  heroes  and  mai-tyrs  of  every  age 
and  clime,  who  had  expressed  through  these  volumes  their 
thought,  their  investigations,  their  trials  and  experiences 
gained  while  inhabitants  of  this  earthly  sphere. 

Wonderful  was  this  great  library,  and  truly  did  I  stand 
in  wonder  and  amazement  at  this  to  me  incomprehensible 
grandeur  of  what  I  saAv  before  me.  Still  we  moved  on  to 
another  circular  dome,  when  to  m}'  astonished  gaze  opened 
a  museum  of  every  tiling  created  on  our  globe  from  its 
first  formation  to  the  present  time  or  at  that  time,  for  that 
was  during  my  first  introduction  to  spirit  spheres.  These 
are  spirit  designs  before  the  earth  is  moulded  into  form, 
for  spirit  conceives  and  impregnates  earth  with  its  concep- 
tion of  everything  that  was  made,  whether  life,  vegetable 
or  mineral.  Thus  we  beheld  the  models  of  spirit  life. 
Wonderful    indeed,  are   thy  works,   O   God,  Thou  great 


10 

Divine;  sliould  we  not  give  thanks  to  Thee  whom  to  knotv 
is  to  love  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  The  guide,  for 
such  this  bright  angel  was,  told  me  that  all  inventions  or 
designs  were  preconceived  in  spirit-life  and  impressed 
upon  those  minds  most  susceptible  and  best  adapted  to 
such  controls  given  at  the  time  the  world  most  needs  them 
or  can  appreciate  them — thus  supplying  her  wants  as  fast 
as  she  demands — showing  an  all-wise  power  creating 
wants  and  supplying  them.  What  a  thought!  that  souls 
that  hunger  after  food  find  their  supply  in  spirit  com- 
munion, whether  through  mechanical  labor,  mental  lore 
or  inspirational  wisdom. 

\Ye  now  moved  on.  She  said  that  she  would  take  me 
to  the  homes  of  some  who  had  been  earth's  poets.  We 
came  to  a  lovely  spot  where  clustered  beautiful  trees  and 
flowers,  with  miniature  lakes  and  mounds  which  gave  such 
a  life  scene  that  I  felt  chained  to  the  spot. 

Here  were  the  homes  of  Shelly,  Pope  and  Dryden, 
sages  and  philosophers  in  their  earth  time  and  age,  resting 
in  this  sphere  to  revel  again  in'  those  luxurious  scenes  of 
song,  in  which  they  loved  to  linger.  Volumes  of  poems 
lay  around,  whose  language  had  startled  the  world,  and 
volumes  that  should  arouse  it  again  through  other  pens. 

Such  I  found  this  beautiful  locality — a  living  breathing 
witness  of  continued  life.  Y/hile  we  were  contemplating 
of  these  beautiful  homes,  I  was  impressed  to  look  at  a 
lovely  lake  where  were  many  spirits  congregated.  Pol- 
lowing  my  guide,  we  approached  to  where  they  were 
gathered  —  when,  suddenly,  a  shout  of  heavenly  music 
broke  upon  my  senses  and  swelled  within  those  vibrating 
emotions  of  grandeur  and  sublimity  that  seemed  to  carry 
me  to  all  that  bad  ever  passed  on  to  higher  and  holier  realms 
of  bliss.  These  were  those  whom  1  had  long  loved  in 
sympathy,  mingling  together  with  those  whose  homes  I 
had  Just  passed.  They  came  to  us  and  seemed  to  recog- 
nize me  by  a  peculiar  tie  that  binds  spirit  to  spirit. 

We  were  welcomed  to  this  beautiful  retreat,  and  many 
were  the  inquiries  for  their  home  associations. 

After  passing  a  pleasant  time,  we  returned  to  the  home 
of  my  guide,  when  bidding  me  adieu,  we  parted. 

My  mother  again  approached,  saying,  "My  son,  we  will 
now  take  you  back  to  earth,  where  you  may  recognize  the 
great  sphere  in  which  you  will  be  guided  and  directed  by 
those  who  will  show  you  your  mission." 

I  was  happy  to  be  permitted  to  revisit  my  home  where 
all  was  dear  to  me;  where  many  a  friend  still  dwelt  in  the 
form  to  whom  I  longed  to  make  known  my  happiness  in 


11 

being  able  to  return  to  earth  in  the  happy  consciousness 
of  being  able  to  impart  good  if  not  to  make  myself  known. 

How  eager  did  I  again  revisit  old  scenes,  and  how  fresh 
came  back  to  me  all  my  past,  and  how  truly  gratified  to 
be  permitted  this  great  blessing. 

How  I  longed  to  make  myself  known  to  the  dear  ones 
left  on  earth.  I  was  told  that  the  time  would  come  when 
I  would  be  able  to  make  myself  known,  be  recognized  as 
one  who  would  be  a  friend  to  those  still  living  upon  the 
earth,  that  my  duties  on  earth  were  only  a  commencement 
of  continual  life.  That  now  I  was  being  prepared  to  help 
those  who  still  linger  in  bond;ige,  to  awaken  those  who 
slept  in  unci)usciousness  of  their  true  life;  that,  that  lib- 
erty for  which  I  was  an  instrument  to  gain,  had  oiily  com- 
menced, and  the  continuation  was  a  full,  a  free  light  for 
all  to  see,  that  should  be  as  free  to  all  as  the  sun's  rays, 
that  no  one  could  hide  or  destroy;  that  it  might  illuminate 
all;  that  there  should  be  no  more  oppression,  no  more 
bondage  for  man,  but  a  free,  universal  freedom  for  all,  an 
elevated  spiritual  condition  of  mankind;  that  they  must  be 
lifted  out  of  this  fear  and  darkness,  and  the  angel  world 
must  mingle  their  sympathies  and  draw  by  their  influence 
the  souls  of  men  out  of  bondag(i  into  confidence  and  love 
with  God  and  the  angel  M'orld. 

How  truly  has  to  me  that  prophecy  been  fulfilled,  that 
one  of  angels  ministering  unto  the  wants  of^men.  Could 
man  to-day,  with  all  the  greit  inspiration  of  this  era, 
realize  the  wonderful  changes  being-  wrought  out  through 
angel  ministry,  he  would  not  so  often  despair  for  the 
future. 

What  to  man  often  looks  dark  and  obscure  may  be  the 
greatest  of  blessings  in  disguise.  We  trust  too  much  to 
our  powers  and  knowledge  of  eternal  things  and  yield 
not  enough  to  our  interior  promptings. 

When  man  learns  to  listen  to  the  teachings  from  within, 
he  will  enable  those  loved  friends  to  come  nearer  and  im- 
press them  with  the  truthfulness  of  life. 

1  know,  by  my  own  experience,  that  I  was  helped  much 
in  ra}-  earthly  life.  I  felt  it  then,  but  now  I  know.  I  was 
not  the  only  one;  thousands  before  me  knew  that  great 
fact,  and  silently  heeded  it,  and  were  blest  accordingly. 

For  many  3'ears  the  world  has  been  taught  to  deny  those 
teachings  as  superstitious,  and  believers  were  called 
dreamers  or  fanatics,  and  utterly  discarded  in  the  world 
by  popular  teachings.  Mothers  and  grandmothers  have 
been  looked  upon  as  imbecil  and  deranged,  who  spoke  of 
seeing  or  believing  in  "ghosts"  or  dreams;  and  many  an 


12 

honest,  true-hearted,  loving  being,  has  been  called  a  witch 
in  communication  with  the  devil,  because  she  could  tell  of 
the  future.  Oh  what  dreadful  darkness  and  superstition 
reigned  in  the  dsijs  of  witchcraft;  how  many  bright  souls 
were  condemned  and  cruelly  murdered  by  infatuated  and 
misled  beings,  whose  bigoted  education  and  fear  of  a  devil 
caused  them  to  commit.  Oh  ignorance!  how  terrible  are 
the  revolutions  which  must  roll  over  you  to  work  out  the 
great  problem  of  a  true  life,  whose  inner  essence  is  the 
aroma  of  all  progress. 

The  angel  world  has  ever  ministered  to  the  wants  of 
man  through  all  time,  and  had  not  bigotry  and  persecu- 
tion ruled  the  earth  with  such  a  fearful  hand,  we  might 
now  be  in  sweet  communion  with  the  world,  without  doubt 
or  fear.  But  those  who  have  held  power  have  used  it  to 
their  own  aggrandizement,  and  to  sustain  it  have  com- 
pelled the  masses  to  iguos'-'uice  and  servitude,  transferring 
God  into  a  tyrant  rather  than  a  father. 

Even  when  Christ  was  sent  to  enlighten  and  harmonize 
the  world,  he  coukl  not  be  recognized  by  them  because  he 
came  not  as  they  liked  but  as  meek  and  lowly.  How  are 
the  meek  and  lowly  appreciated  to-day,  are  they  exalted 
or  acknowledged  '<!  No.  Such  a  spirit  can  never  grow 
into  a  true  spiritual  condition,  and  the  world  cease  to 
recognize  the  eternal  as  the  one  great  aim  of  life.  How 
many  sacrifice  dear  and  loving  friends  for  the  sake  of 
being  popular  amongst  those  whose  soul's  aim  is  to  shine 
like  a  flash  of  lightning  while  the  bolt  strikes  its  votary 
to  the  heart. 

The  cold  formal  teachings  of  theology  has  done  its  work 
upon  the  hearts  of  men;  it  has  hardened  them  to  other's 
goodness,  and  uplifted  those  who  had  its  instructions  as 
something  better  than  a  brother  who  does  not  see  as  they  do. 

If  they  would  take  Christ's  example  and  teachings  for 
their  guide,  striving  to  do  as  He  did,  with  the  same  simple 
faith  doing  good  and  persecuting  none,  they  would  not 
remain  idle,  waiting  for  him  to  cleanse  them  from  their 
sins  by  the  blood  He  shed  upon  the  cross.  All  that  fail 
to  learn  that  lesson  in  earth  life,  will  have  to  learn  it  in 
the  spirit;  will  have  to  learn  that  tlie}^  have  a  work  to  do, 
and  that  if  not  done  in  earth  life  must  be  done  in  spirit, 
as  no  one  can  escape  his  mission.  All  "must  work  out 
their  own  salvation"  in  earth  life  or  in  the  life  to  come. 

Such  vv^ere  Christ's  Avords  as  were  impressed  upon  him 
and  such  all  find  it  on  coming  here.  Those  who  do  not 
Jive  with  and  by  the  spirit  in  earth  life  must  work  thron'gh 
that  darkness  after  coming  to  spirit  life.    There  are  many 


13 

phases  or  spheres  through  which  spirit  has  to  grow  to 
become  an  iiulepenclent  sj>irit  of  the  spheres.  Many  lin- 
ger around  earth  years,  iiaving  so  much  of  the  eartliy 
about  them  that  it  attracts  to  itself  all  that  belongs  to  it. 
If  the  spirit  has  not  grown  to  a  condition  to  free  itself 
from  its  material,  it  will  cling  around  until  grown  into  a 
more  s[)iritual  condition.  Thuuscinds  have  to  come  back 
and  take  possession  of  other  persons  to  carry  out  their 
unprogressed  condition,  and  the  more  material  their 
medium  is,  the  better  can  spirits  of  that  class  act  through 
them.  All  should  endeavor  to  class  their  mediums  ac- 
cording to  their  development,  and  not  allow  those  pro- 
gressed to  a  more  sj)iritual  plane  to  mingle  with  those  of 
the  earlier  development  in  a  social  relation  of  circles  un- 
less as  teachers.  It  is  the  same  law  as  in  governing 
schools.  No  teacher,  for  a  moment,  would  briniz;  himself 
down  to  the  capacity  of  a  scholar  in  the  intellectual  scale, 
expecting  that  scholar  to  be  as  well  educated  as  himself, 
after  having  passed  through  many  grades  of  education. 
But  he  may  love,  respect  and  mingle  with  them  to  instruct, 
to  elevate  them  to  a  condition  of  knowledge.  But  to  try 
to  render  himself  as  uneducated,  would  place  him  out  of 
his  condition,  making  it  very  inharmonious  for  both. 
Thus  you  see  the  same  law  governs  both.  We  commence 
at  the  primary  and  rise  in  the  progressive  scale  of  intelli- 
gence. Infants  are  beautiful  as  miniature  men  and  women, 
but  they  are  not  men  and  women  for  want  of  experience 
and  knowledge,  gained  by  the  progressive  life.  This 
beautiful  law  of  development  gives  a  new  light  of  useful- 
ness through  time  and  throughout  eternity. 

All  are  one  great  family,  working  out  principles  of  life 
and  assisting  one  another  in  the  great  workshop  of  eternity, 
all  being  perfectly  arranged  in  harmony  and  beauty. 


SECTION  SECOND. 

I  have  wandered  from  my  theme,  perhaps,  in  illustrating 
the  great  problem  of  life,  but  when  such  volumes  come  up 
before  me  of  retrospection,  I  cannot  fail  to  illustrate  as  I 
feel  the  wonderful  in  God's  great  arcana,  that  life  once 
given,  ever  liveth  in  and  through  all  eternity. 

I  saw  the  bright  star  rising,  which  shouM  be  seen  by 
all,  and  being  seen  would  awaken  the  world  to  a  conscious- 


14 

ness  of  the  great  revelation.  Inspired  men  of  all  ages 
have  felt  this  grand  law,  but  could  not  fully  comprehend 
it.  The  general  awakening  of  the  present  day,  is  only  the 
result  of  a  long  struggle  between  darkness  and  light,  igno- 
rance and  education,  not  the  refined  education  that  limits 
its  pupil  to  certain  rules  and  forms,  but  a  general  educa- 
tion of  mind  and  soul,  an  imj^ulse  to  learn  all  things,  an 
investigation  of  all  laws  of  God,  both  material  and  spiritual, 
not  cramping  the  mind  to  certain  limits,  but  cultivating, 
enlarging  and  beautifying  all  things  within  this  great 
temple  of  life.  I  find  myself  coming  back  many  times  to 
earth  to  gain  instruction  from  those  who  have  to  give  from 
their  knowledge  of  earth  in  her  more  recent  developments, 
while  I  too  can  impart  knoM'ledge  gained  in  sphere  life, 
and  often  get  sweet  instruction  while  ministering  to  the 
wants  of  man.  The  world  looks  to  us  for  all  knowledge 
being  governed  by  a  law  like  unto  themselves.  We  find 
ourselves  limited  to  conditions  we  cannot  overcome,  and 
can  give  light  or  knowledge  no  farther  than  we  have  indi- 
viduall}-  advanced,  unless  at  times,  through  inspirational 
moments,  we  reach  beyond  our  sphere.  Still,  we  have 
much  to  give,  were  conditions  only  understood  to  bring 
out  the  hidden  treasures  of  the  soul,  and  when  it  can  be 
brought  around  we  can  do  much. 

As  yet,  the  world  is  far  from  being  passive  to  the  proper 
conditions.  It  is  only  by  great  eftbrts  that  so  much  has 
been  gained,  but  enough  to  know  that  we  feel  that  we  have 
been  recognized  as  a  living  principle,  a  desire  to  be  free  as 
God,  free  as  the  inspiration  with  which  we  are  surrounded. 
Every  element  in  life  must  be  free  to  receive  the  fullness  of 
our  father  and  our  mother's  love — unbounded,  unbroken. 
The  great  struggle  for  liberty  to  worship  God  according  to 
the  dictates  of  our  own  interior  longings,  w^rote  itself  on 
the  tablets  of  eternity.  To  be  compelled  to  worship  acco)  d- 
ingto  another's  form  or  creed,  is  as  abhorent  to  the  soul  as  to 
compel  one  living  to  be  tied  to  a  dead  body,  and  drag  it 
with  him  through  life  in  anticipation  of  an  eternal  repose. 
No,  every  awakened  soul  has  aspirations  adapted  to  his 
wants,  and  can  be  led  by  truth  and  beauty  up  to  higher 
and  holier  principles,  but  can  never  be  driven  by  threats 
or  scorn  to  embrace  what  to  them  has  no  beauty  or  holi- 
ness. Terrors  never  create  love  and  trusting  confidence; 
there  is  always  a  fear  of  some  terrible  change  which  will 
bring  them  to  some  dread  account.  It  was  this  great  in- 
spiration which  aroused  our  forefathers  to  forsake  their 
homes  and  friends,  to  find  freedom  to  worship  their  great 
teacher,  who  they  felt  impressed  them  on  to  a  home  fresh 


16 

with  lifo  and  free  from  the  hands  of  its  creator,  where 
they  mif,'ht  worship  in  the  fullness  and  purity  of  their 
souls.  How  beautiful,  how  .glorious  was  the  free  unbound- 
ed love  that  went  up  to  the  father  of  all  for  his  love  and 
mercy,  in  opening  a  way  that  gave  liberty  to  express  those 
beanliful  thoughts  that  came  swelling  up  in  their  souls, 
gushing  out  in  praise  and  joy  for  their  gnnit  deliverance, 
to  praise  God  after  their  own  mind.  What  will  not  the 
soul  do  to  emerge  into  light?  It  wdl  seek  its  own — it  can- 
not be  driven  back;  you  may  check  it  or  strive  to  check  it 
from  its  course— but  like  n  river  it  will  burst  its  bounds, 
and  struggle  through  in  other  ways  in  its  course  to  the 
ocean -for  there  it  is  bound  and  there  it  will  go.  But  try 
and  beautify  it  by  removing  the  obstructions,  and  it  will 
flow  on  beautiful  to  look  upon,  and  useful  as  a  current  of 
life  to  bear  us  on  to  our  destination.  Such  then  is  the 
soul  of  man;  it  feels  its  own  intention,  its  own  awak- 
ing; and  shall  anothei-  dare  to  deny  or  debar  that  soul 
the  freedom  of  sweet  communion  with  God.  Can  we 
fathom  God?  if  not,  can  we  fathom  the  soul?  If  God  is 
infinite,  it  must  take  everything  to  make  God;  and  is  it 
not  necessary  that  every  soul  must  have  its  own  inspira- 
tion of  God;  we  c mnot  all  understand  him  alike;  we  can 
only  see  him  from  our  own  standpoint.  Some  see  him  in 
fear  ms  a  terrible  being;  that  is  partly  owing  to  education 
or  surroundings,  or  unhealthy  conditions  of  the  mind, 
from  physical  disorganizations;  and  the}-  look  through 
those  phases  as  we  look  through  smoked  glass,  and  give 
the  coloring  of  that  divine  being  through  distorted  lenses, 
each  seeinu  Him  according  to  their  cajiacity.  Therefore 
all  see  Him  differently;  still  He  is  the  same  God,  yester- 
day, to-day  and  forever.  Those  whose  souls  have  been 
cramped  by  fear  of  Him,  look  at  Him  only  to  dread  Him 
as  a  hnrd  and  cruel  master,  while  those  who  recognize 
Him  with  confidence  and  love  as  a  true  father,  unbounded 
in  love  and  wisdom,  see  Him  beautified  and  good,  bestow- 
ing good  gifts  unto  his  children.  They  behold  Him,  in 
everything  as  a  recognized  being,  whose  fullness  is  seen 
evervwhere.  It  is  this  emotional,  this  restless  law  of 
development  that  inspires  and  moves  beings  out  of  the 
common  and  dull  routine  of  every-day  life;  to  arouse  them 
from  a  dormant  capacity  as  it  were  to  a  new,  a  living 
awakening  to  a  something  newer,  and  a  higher  and  holier 
principle  of  life.  It  is  not  us  that  are  doing  this,  but  the 
divine  spark  that  is  within  us  that  arouses  us  to  a  con- 
sciou-uess  of  a  want  not  supplied — a  yeaiuiug  after  some- 


16 

tiling  beyond,  for  which  we  need  and  must  have  to  satisfy 
the  demands  of  our  being. 

We  have  not  understood  God's  laws  that  the  soul  has 
its  requirements  as  well  as  the  physical  body,  and  that 
to  nourish  it  we  must  understand  what  those  wants  are, 
and  supply  them  as  readily  as  we  would  the  starving  body 
with  its  desire  for  nourishment.  We  have  fed  the  body 
with  food  as  we  imperfectly  understood  it,  but  have  utterly 
denied  food  for  the  soul  of  thousands  of  starving  children. 
It  has  been  a  custom— a  law  in  fact — to  compel  men  and 
women  (made  and  recognized  by  God  as  his  children)  to 
worship  him  according  to  a  religious  rite,  entirely  against 
their  inclination,  better  judgment  or  intuitive  impressions, 
because  it  was  a  recognized  religion  of  the  world. 

Must  every  flower  grow  upon  a  rock,  because  one 
chanced  to  bo  born  there  or  in  the  dark  cavern,  or  does 
God  bless  them  everywhere.  Do  they  not  flourish  best 
where  nature  is  best  adapted  to  their  wants — the  morning 
sunshine,  the  fertile  soil  and  sparkling  dew-drops.  Yet 
those  beautiful  flowers  which  are  so  lovely,  are  in  as  sweet 
communion  with  their  creator  as  those  more  blest  with 
congenial  life.  We  feel  that  it  is  delight  to  have  beauti- 
ful birds  caged  to  administer  to  our  happiness;  but  are 
they  living  a  fullness  of  life;  have  they  liberty?  I  always 
felt  while  listening  to  their  plaintive  strains,  that  there  was 
a  sadness  lingering  around  them  which  gave  me  a  feeling 
of  pity  for  their  prisoned  condition.  Every  soul  longs  for 
freedom,  and  feels  a  mysterious  tie  binding  him  to  a  future, 
a  different  life.  We  try  to  overcome  it  by  rendering  our- 
selves happy  to  present  surroundings,  but  we  inevitably  feel 
that  we  are  to  act  some  p;irt  to  us  yet  unknown.  We  cannot 
chain  the  soul;  it  is  linked  with  the  unfathomable  beyond 
this  sphere;  we  are  beings  of  change,  and  the  infinite  has 
written  out  our  lives  on  the  great  future. 

Worlds  cannot  hold  us;  we  are  ever  moving  onward,  and 
upward  to  an  unknown  intelligence  which  will  give  to  us 
as  fast  as  we  can  comprehend  it — infinite  instinct  draws  us 
unto  that  protection  and  nourishment  which  is  designed 
foi  our  ur-e— but  we  have  sadly  denied  that  silent  language, 
which  never  deceives  when  rightly  understood. 

The  inevitable  law  of  progress  show.;  that  we  are  destined 
to  be  an  intelligent  and  spiritual  world;  everything  demon- 
strates that  fact,  from  the  earliest  formation  to  the  present 
time.  I  thought  much  of  these  things  before  leaving  earth; 
I  saw  many  things  which  proved  beyond  a  doubt  to  my 
mind,  that  this  earth  was  developing  itself;  and  that  it 
passed  of  forms  to  another  life  which  were  to  live  and  com- 


17 

municuto  with  us  intelligently.  Many  things  occurreil  to 
me  wliicb  gave  proof  of  this.  Those  trying  scenes  through 
which  I  passed  in  that  long  revolutionary  struggle  for 
liberty,  gave  nie  many  an  impression  of  an  interior,  a 
spirit-life,  and  left  a  conviction  with  me  that  I  should  live 
again,  and  return  to  earth  with  a  full  consciousness  of 
being,  and  as  a  dweller  in  spirit-life  should  recognize  the 
material  world;  but  my  ideas  of  heaven  were  never  clearly 
definc'l.  It  wiis  always  clothed  in  mystery  regarding  its 
true  locality  and  suiroundings.  I  always  felt  that  1  was 
leii  or  guided  rather  than  an  independent  being;  I  felt  the 
preserving  hand  of  God,  as  I  recognized  it  then  in  shield- 
ing me  from  danger,  while  those  around  me  were  stricken 
down  while  in  comjiarative  safety.  There  seemed  to  be  a 
presence  always  about  me,  whisptring  words  of  consola- 
tion and  encouragement.  History  records  some  of  those 
wonderful  events  which  transpired  to  preserve  me  from 
danger  and  privations,  while  so  many  of  my  dear  comrades 
fell  to  rise  no  more  on  earth,  but  rose  in  immortality,  there 
to  await  my  coming  with  welcome  songs  of  praise,  as  to  a 
brother  who  had  tarried  longer  upon  that  troubled  bosom 
of  mother  earth,  until  her  restless  children  had  found 
peace  and  liberty  to  shield  them  from  oppression  and 
bigotry,  where  they  could  praise  God  under  their  own  vine 
and  tig- tree. 

Those  beautiful  inspirations  in  my  earthly  life  are  now 
being  realized  in  my  spiritual  progression — those  beauti- 
ful interior  thoughts  are  becoming  living  truths  to  my 
spiritual  senses,  for  every  flower  and  drop  of  water,  every 
grain  of  sand  speaks  unto  the  soul  its  own  future,  and  is 
again  recognized  in  spirit-life  with  all  its  fullness  and  soul 
meaning  to  our  spiritual  understanding. 

The  poet,  the  painter,  in  their  inspirational  moments, 
illustrate  the  soul  of  things  to  the  world,  in  a  language 
which  inspires  those  who  read  or  look  upon  the  canvas 
with  the  wonderful  and  beautiful  in  nature  and  art — that 
soul  language  we  took  with  us  to  oui-  beautiful  home  as 
mementoes  of  past  ages  when  we  were  mortal  and  inhabi- 
tants of  the  sphere  of  physical,  when  the  soul  had  a  mortal 
covering  to  protect  and  perfect  a  divinity,  an  independent 
form  to  be  letained  and  perfected  in  its  organization,  while 
a  dweller  here — a  recognized,  identified,  spiritual  being  in 
its  progression  through  the  ditferent  spheres  of  spirit-life. 
Such,  then,  I  found  Heaven,  a  perpetual  living  epitome, 
where  we,  as  children  born  into  spirit-life,  were  to  grow, 
taking  on  with  us  such  conditions  as  this  life  gave  us,  of 
variety  and  attraction  that  were  harmonious  to  our  conili- 


18 

tion,  and  as  we  awoke  to  a  liiglier  and  nobler  condition  we 
lose  those  things  we  no  longer  need,  rising  out  as  it  were 
Phoenix  like  from  our  a^hes  of  the  past,  to  a  newer  and 
brighter  sphere  of  usefulness,  for  I  find  that  in  laying  down 
our  earthly  garments  that  the  spirit  does  not  find  eternal 
rest,  but  has  just  taken  up  its  work  in  this  wonderful  pro- 
gress of  eternal  law. 

I  thought  while  on  earth  that  my  labors  would  be  ended 
when  the  great  rest  came — that  my  mission  was  filled  when 
I  entered  paradise  and  could  have  constant  association  with 
the  blest,  and  be  permitted  an  occasional  visit  to  earth, 
for  I  could  not  give  up  the  thought  that  spirits  might  come 
near  earth  at  times  and  minister  somewhat  to  their  condi- 
tions— but  as  I  have  said,  I  had  but  an  indistinct  idea  of 
heaven  and  the  angel  world. 

What  I  have  seen  since  my  advent  to  spirit  life  has  been 
a  lesson  to  me  and  may  be  some  benefit  to  those  yet  in  the 
form.  I  find  that  all  my  usefulness  did  not  cease  at  my 
change — that  I  had  only  laid  out  a  small  portion  of  useful- 
ness and  labor  while  in  earth-life,  and  that  what  good  seed 
I  hud  sown  while  in  the  form  would  do  its  good  work — 
that  my  deviations  from  natural  laws  only  debcirred  for  a 
time  the  spirit  progress  to  higher  conditions. 


SECTION  THIED. 

The  first  sounds  of  those  tiny  raps  awakened  a  slum- 
bering world  to  a  consciousness  of  living  witnesses  minis- 
tering to  them  the  unfoldment  of  a  new  era  of  existence 
which  would  usher  into  being  a  new  principle  of  thought 
and  action  ;  a  divine  revelation  from  the  world  of  those 
departed  who  again  had  returned,  making  themselves 
known  by  a  thousand  new  and  strange  forms  of  speech, 
and  action,  giving  an  alphabet  of  spirit-life,  through  and 
by  which  they  could  communicate  to  their  dear  friends 
from  the  other  shore,  proving  by  those  wonderful  demon- 
strations their  true  identity. 

With  what  joy  did  those  living  witnesses  greet  us  as  we 
silently,  though  truthfully,  gave  demonstrations  of  con- 
tinued life. 

But  the  world,  always  slow  to  recognize  anything  be- 
yond their  limited  comprehension,  denied  and  scorned  the 


19 

thought  that  immortal  friends  could  or  would  return  again 
to  earth.  Many,  through  fear  of  some  dread  exposure, 
imagining  the  revelations  ofsome  of  their  hidden  mysteries 
or  wrongs  done  to  others,  scotfed  at  the  possibility  of 
spirit  return,  while  in  their  hearts  they  trembled  lest  it 
sliotUd  be  true. 

The  Pharisee  felt  it  would  revolutionize  his  theory  of 
religion.  Such  has  been  the  principal  cause  of  denying 
the  mission  of  spirits  to  this  world,  wishing  by  combating 
and  denying  to  deuy  to  us  the  privilege  of  returning  to 
earth,  fearing  the  dead  may  tell  tales  of  the  many  wrongs 
done  them  here.  The  old  adage,  that  "dead  men  tell  no 
tales,"  is  pleasantly  sustained  by  them,  and  to  awaken  to 
a  knowledge  of  an  intelligence  beyond  returning,  startled 
the  bigoted,  wicked  world  to  its  ioundation.  But  the 
dear  ones  who  liave  longed  for  truth  and  freeJom  found 
an  answering  call  to  their  jjrogress,  a  hope  be3ond  the 
dark  and  silent  tomb,  and  a  happy  recognition  of  fathers, 
mothers,  children,  brothers,  sisters  and  friends  who  would 
come  and  administer  consolation  to  their  souls  as  well  as 
those  saints  of  old  whom  they  pray  so  unceasingly  to. 

We  have  now  an  intelligent  communication  opened  and 
understootl  between  the  spheres,  and  each  and  all  are  per- 
mitted to  receive  tokens  of  their  friends. 

How  should  the'  world  rejoice  at  this  great  event;  but, 
like  all  others  of  importance,  it  is  denied,  trampled  on, 
and  those  through  whom  it  came  arc  not  recognized  as 
honest  or  reliable  because  it  was  not  given  to  some  popu- 
lar religion,  or  because  it  was  considered  an  impossibility, 
as  all  great  advanced  thoughts  are  received,  and  as  Jesus 
himself  was  received  when  he  came  teaching  this  same 
doctrine.  They  soon  crucified  Him,  and  would  have  those 
through  whom  those  raps  came,  had  not  sufficient  light 
shone  upon  the  world  through  mesmerism,  magnetism  and 
electric  currents  to  push  back  the  crowd  of  ignorance  that 
would  have  destroyed  them. 

How  truly  many  love  darkness  rather  than  light  fearing 
the  liglit  will  expose  their  hideous  deformity.  The  great 
awakening  to  life,  the  advent  of  telegraphing  the  thoughts 
from  north  to  south,  east  to  west,  from  the  absent  wan- 
derer to  the  home  circle  gave  an  impetus  to  life,  a  heart 
throb  to  millions  of  living,  intelligent  beings,  who  felt  at 
once  the  names  of  those  whom  oceans  and  mountains  had 
separated  for  years — felt  in  the  unit  of  that  great  link  a 
response  of  brotherly  love  and  friendship  cemented.  But 
was  it  done  without  an  eilbrt,  a  struggle?  Did  man  receive 
it  at  once,  or  did  he  rebel  and  deny  the  possibility  of  such 


20 

a  scene.  The  spirit  world  had  fouud  a  channel  by  and 
throiigh  which  they  could  work  out  the  problem  of  con- 
necting thought  controlling  space  and  distance  into  seconds 
of  time. 

Now  the  world  looks  on,  and  feels  the  great  importance  of 
that  wonderful  invention  and  gain  when  continents  are 
united.  Another  great  mind  was  sought  which  had  to  pass 
the  great  ordeal  of  doubting  Thomases  when  at  last  it  was 
supposed  he  had  gained  the  victory,  what  wonderful  demon- 
strations in  his  favor,  but  when,  alas,  it  was  pronounced 
a  failure,  he  was  hooted  and  sneered  at  as  a  poor,  fanatical 
idiot  for  ever  dreaming  of  such  a  scheme.'^  Such  is  life 
and  such  are  the  phases  of  mankind  while  laboring  under 
ignorance;  the  first  to  assail  without  investigation  and  the 
first  to  adopt  when  it  has  proved  itself  an  independent 
truth. 

Those  who  do  most  for  the  world  leceive  the  least  reward 
in  its  worldly  benefits  ;  but  the  soul  that  lifts  itself  above 
feels  a  reward  beyond  all  earthly  agrandizemeut. 

They  are  lifted  in  aspirations  and  sympathy  to  those 
ennobling,  spiritual  influences  which  have  upheld  and  sus- 
tained them  through  their  trying  ordeal,  and  now  reward 
them  in  soul  language  that  mortal  cannot  give  or  take  away. 
I  have  been  with  you  often  and  mingled  my  sympathies 
with  you  in  all  your  trying  scenes  of  this  late  uuhappy  war. 
The  true  spirit  of  liberty  has  a  diamond  setting  and  will 
remain  when  all  dross  or  ignorance  will  be  removed.  Manj^ 
of  its  particles  may  have  been  destroyed,  but  only  to  make 
the  remaining  centre  a  more  brilliant,  a  more  permanent 
structure.  The  grand  framework  has  been  immortalized 
by  the  grand  architect  of  nature's  harmonies,  and  remodeled 
by  our  early  charter  of  governmental  form  in  uniting  and 
still  dispensing^  freedom  to  all  as  we  then  understood  it,  and 
through  the  developing  powers  of  time  wrought  out  through 
opposing  elements,  a  chosen,  a  brighter  light  for  freedom. 

Through  all  this  we  have  not  been  idle,  and  through 
the  ministration  of  the  angel -world,  a  spiritual  light  has 
broken  in  upon  the  darkness  of  the  mind,  awakening  it  to 
a  higher  and  a  nobler  impulse  that  every  man  has  a  right 
to  speak  and  think  the  thoughts  or  inspirations  God  has 
given  him,  feeling  or  upholding  a  self-reliant  assurance, 
that  a  power  sustains  all  good  and  ennobling  action. 

Your  dear  departed  Lincoln,  do  you  think  him  dead  be- 
cause removed  from  sight?  No,  he  stands  to-day  an  im- 
mortalized spirit,  investigating  and  sustaining  this,  our 
beloved  country;  and  though  a  martyr  through  the  con- 

*  Would  say  to  youthful  readers,  that  Morse's  Atlantic  Cable  at  first  proved  a  failure. 


21 

spiracy  of  an   infatuated,   bigoted  people,   still  he  pities 
tlicm  for  their  darkness  and  inharmonious  conditions. 

Could  you  see  him  to-day,  you  would  find  him  at  his 
work,  with  the  same  calm,  benignant  look  tracing  the  line 
of  the  nation.  He  lives  not  only  to-day  in  the  hearts  of 
his  people,  but  a  living,  acting  principle,  as  true  to  the 
interest  of  his  country  as  when  on  earth.  No,  so  long  as 
such  men  are  moulded  in  earth  and  transplanted  in  heaven, 
your  noble  country  will  never  be  destroyed,  but  will  be 
sustained  to  outgrow  all  bigotry  and  error,  uniting  with  a 
free  and  ennobling  purpose  of  life. 

My  great  desire  is  to  see  this  glorious  structure  reared 
so  harmonious,  that  angels  can  come  in  true  sympathy, 
uniting  the  two  worlds  in  one,  giving  and  receiving  the 
true  elements  of  life. 

Truly  is  it  not  one  life,  with  its  variety,  its  changes 
growing  more  and  more  refined,  purified  on  its  upward 
progress,  yet  not  scorning  to  return  to  embrace  those  yet 
clothed  with  material,  to  impregnate  them  with  the 
spiritual,  the  divine  influence  of  their  spiritual  life.  Oh, 
how  can  any  one  wish  to  debar  the  thought  that  angels  can 
minister  unto  the  wants  of  man.  Angels  are  only  dis- 
solved mortals,  and  by  ]>urifyiug  by  sympathy  and  love, 
by  communion  with  those  from  the  other  side,  ^ve  feel  the 
same  interest  for  life  as  wben  on  earth  ;  being  free  from 
the  mortal,  we  see  and  understand  the  wants  and  neces- 
sities of  man  clearer,  and  to  a  more  enlarged  sphere  than 
while  in  the  form.  My  investigation  has  proved  that  there 
is  no  hell,  where  the  wicked  are  forever  tortured,  and  no 
heaven  where  there  is  eternal  rest  from  action.  I  find  con- 
tinued progress  from  lower  to  higher  conditions,  and  what 
man  does  not  learn  or  live  up  to  while  on  earth,  he  must 
learn  or  grow  to  after  changing  forms  and  worlds,  for  he 
is  only  passed  to  iinother  sphere  of  action,  where  he  con- 
tinues to  unfold  in  that  the  spiritual  world  has  to  give. 

We  are  placed  here  as  the  beginning  of  life  to  use  the 
blessings  of  this  world  in  preparing  and  fitting  us  for 
another.  By  understanding  the  true  nature  of  this  world 
and  its  uses,  improving  and  becoming  acquainted  with 
natural  laws,  thereby  learning  to  harmonize  our  conditions 
with  the  wants  and  desires  of  our  natures,  that  we  may 
grow  to  a  perfectness  of  the  principles  of  life,  that  the 
unfoidment  may  be  a  perfect  soul  at  its  departure,  not 
cramped  or  deformed,  but  beautifully  adapted  and  de- 
veloped when  it  leaves  its  mother's  hands  to  enter  into  the 
folds  of  its  Father,  God,  a  well  developed,  spiritual  chilil, 
born  of  both  material  and  spiritual  life. 


22 

We  sometimes  come  to  earth  singl}^,  and  sometimes  as 
a  convocation  of  spirits,  and  mingle  around  the  loved  spots 
of  earth.  Sometimes  hosts  attend  when  there  is  sufficient 
to  attract,  and  you  often  see  mediums  so  perfectly  under 
the  power  of  surrounding  spirits  as  to  change  like  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye  from  one  influence  to  another ;  such 
anxiety  have  the  spirits  to  manifest  themselves,  that  to 
come  they  will  be  satisfied  with  a  shake  of  the  hand  if  no 
more,  just  to  be  permitted  once  more  to  feel  the  pressure 
of  some  friend  of  earth.  It  gives  them  strength  to  go  on- 
ward and  rejoice  in  this  new  found  truth,  as  they  have 
found  that  it  affords  as  much  happiness  to  the  spirits  as 
to  those  still  in  the  form  to  be  known  and  to  realize  that 
they  have  hot  passed  beyond  this  sphere  forever.  This  it  is 
that  makes  heaven  the  free,  full  association  of  dear  friends, 
a  minglino-  of  soul,  not  a  heaven  to  be  placed  beyond  the 
reach  of  dear  ones  cherished  with  only  a  stray  friend  being 
permitted  to  enter  the  holies  of  holies,  while  the  many  not 
recognized  are  refused  admittance,  and  are  cast  off  forever. 

What  must  be  the  state  or  condition  of  that  soul  with 
full  understanding  to  find  himself  alone  in  a  beautiful  spot, 
where  no  dear  friend  could  approach.  Would  it  be  heaven 
to  him?  Would  he  not  rather  choose  hel]  with  all  its 
pains,  and  be  permitted  to  see  the  dear  ones  of  his  earth- 
life?  Give  a  being  a  palace,  with  all  its  grandeur  and 
wealth,  and  compel  him  to  live  without  the  idols  of  his 
heart,  would  he  not  rather  choose  a  cave  within  some  lone 
spot  with  hi^  cherished  ones  around  him.  How  cold 
must  have  been  those  hearts  who  first  conceived  such  a 
distorted  and  horrible  religion  with  no  warmth  of  sun- 
shine, no  ray  of  love  to  enliven  and  warm  into  being  a 
loving,  trusting  confidence  in  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of 
God  for  his  unbounded  mercies  bestowed.  With  what 
zeal  they  have  worked  to  mar  and  deface  tbe  beautiful  pic- 
ture of  harmonious  laws  destroying  nature  and  checking 
the  free,  fresh  impulses  of  God's  holy  sympathies. 

A  long  experience  in  spirit-spberes  has  unfolded  to  m© 
the  great  problem  of  man's  existence,  as  it  does  to  every 
spirit  that  has  risen  to  a  condition  of  harmonious  truth. 

It  tears  down  and  destroys  all  theories  though  made 
with  honest  conviction  of  mind,  which  are  not  made  in  the 
principle  of  love  and  goodness,  for  that  mind  that  con- 
ceived in  error  has  found  a  resting  place  until  it  can  gather 
more  light.  If  a  theory  is  known  to  be  false  and  given  to 
the  world  ignorantly,  or  to  deceive,  the  sooner  that  mask 
is  torn  away  the  better.  Better  that  the  eye  should  be 
torn  from  the  socket,  than  to  let  it  remain  to  destroy  the 


23 

Avhole  body  by  its  disease.  Tiie  object  of  augels  coming 
to  the  world  to-day  to  represent  themselves,  i.s  to  remove 
the  bigotry,  superstition  and  ignorance  of  the  world  re- 
garding the  continued  life  of  departed  friends,  and  to  wel- 
come again  the  light  of  knowledge  Avhich  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
preached  and  practised  while  in  an  inspired  condition. 
Loving,  breathing  words  came  from  bis  soul,  while  he 
practiced  true  brotherly  feeling  to  his  disciples  and  all 
that  would  listen  to  him.  His  bright  and  holy  example 
illustrates  the  sweet  humility  of  a  lovinn",  forgiving  S[)irit, 
blending  the  two  worlds  in  sweet  communion. 

I  have  met  him  in  the  brightest  glory;  a  glorified  saintly 
expression  pervades  his  divine  countenance;  with  a  sweet 
smile  he  beckons  all  to  him  who  can  approach  his  bright 
surroundings;  a  train  of  brightness  follows  him  in  his 
mission  through  the  spheres,  for  he  is  still  fulfilling  his 
mission  of  love  and  kindness,  still  carrying  out  the  great 
principle  he  advocated  while  on  earth.  Conversing  with 
higher  attributes  of  knowledge  that  are  dispensing  har- 
mony everywhere,  I  find  that  there  is  much  to  learn,  and 
that  we  never  cease  to  learn  throughout  eternity.  The 
wondrous  beauty  and  attractive  law  of  progress  draws  us 
on  from  one  sphere  to  another  of  usefulness.  My  mission 
now,  is  to  harmonize  the  condition  of  men  to  a  higher 
law — to  a  usefulness  and  knowledge  of  that  power  that 
exists  within  the  great  fountain  of  all  life,  The  world  is 
a  stranger  unto  itself.  Man  with  all  his  knowledge  has 
not  known  his  brother  man.  The  truest  hearts  have  been 
overlooked,  because  the  sensitive  soul  has  drawn  itself 
beneath  the  external  covering,  which  has  been  cultivated 
to  wear  a  cold  exterior,  and  to  check  back  the  least  sym- 
pathetic expression,  for  fear  of  showing  a  weakness  or 
ignorance  of  the  educational  etiquet  of  society.  I  was 
never  conventional,  and  could  not  adopt  that  supercilious- 
ness and  vanity  which  leads  many  of  earth's  brightest 
ornaments  astray  from  the  beautiful  in  nature.  I  felt  that 
in  honesty  of  purpose  and  candor  of  expression,  we  gained 
more  of  the  real  and  substantial  of  life,  the  true  enjoyment 
of  all  that  this  earth  affords.  I  could  see  uothinu"  gained 
by  deception — that  would  only  result  in  exposure  and 
mortification — and  that  all  who  practiced  it  sooner  or  later 
became  victims  of  their  own  folly.  I  see  many  to-day 
despised  for  their  honesty  in  expressing  the  true  meaning 
of  their  souls,  and  they  are  called  "foolish"  by  those 
who  have  learned  to  wear  a  false  covering  or  mask  to  hide 
their  deforniitv.     It  is  better  to  tear  awav  the  false  cover- 


24 

ing,  and  let  the  true  impulse  come  forth  to  the  light,  that 
what  is  not  good  can  be  removed. 

The  free  speech  of  the  people  to-day  is  that  which  will 
convert  the  world.  B3'  expression,  we  can  gather  the  true 
elements  of  nature,  and  seeing  them  know  how  to  cleanse 
them. 

Suppression  of  thought  by  the  masses  while  being  dic- 
tated to  by  the  few,  and  by  those  limited  to  certain  creeds, 
causes  deception  to  be  practiced  between  the  higher  and 
lower  classes  of  men.  The  lower  orders  fearing  to  disobey 
openly,  and  yet  feeling  an  antagonistic  principle  prevail- 
ing tliem,  knowing  oftentimes  the  justice  of  their  cause, 
are  led  into  revolution  and  bloodshed  ;  we  have  felt  it 
through  all  past  ages;  I  have  seen  it  in  our  own  last  revo- 
lution. 

Suppression  at  the  South  of  voice  and  education,  was 
the  great  lump  through  which  permeated  the  education  of 
free  speech  of  liberal  minds;  its  impregnating  process 
aroused  a  disturbing  element,  which  only  could  subside 
by  throwing  off  the  froth  and  scum  of  ignorance;  bringing 
to  light  a  condition  of  oppression  both  loathsome  and 
terrible,  to  an  enlightened  nation  whose  motto  vi'as  Liberty. 
There  must  alwaj^s  be  a  refining  process  through  the  dif- 
ferent stag-es  of  civilization — the  removing  of  the  old  and 
worn  out  forms  of  materialism,  by  which  the  new  life  or 
growth  must  be  recognized  in  life  as  a  living  principle. 

Many  cling  to  old  forms  as  old  and  tried  friends,  and 
cannot  part  from  them,  fearing  to  trust  to  the  new.  We  can 
love  and  respect  them  for  the  good  they  have  done  in  their 
day,  cherishing  all  the  good  they  gave;  but  shall  we  stand 
idly  looking  back  on  those  who  have  finished  their  work 
here,  and  have  left  their  deeds  to  speak  of  them  in  their 
day,  and  not  look  beyond  for  a  more  developed  and  pro- 
gressed being  in  a  higher  life?  No;  we  find  that  change 
is  written  on  everything  that  we  behold;  that  change  is 
the  great  principle  of  life.  Therefore  we  must  keep  pace 
with  all  created  matter.  Will  a  rose  bloom  continually, 
or  does  it  bud  and  bloom,  and  fade  and  become  scentless; 
the  leaves  fade  and  soon  another  tiny  bud  and  a  gradual 
unfolding  of  another  beautiful  rose,  thus  continuing  life 
and  freshness. 

You  would  not  cling  to  the  old  rose  for  its  freshness, 
for  it  has  gone,  but  for  its  reminiscense  of  some  faithful 
remembrance  or  memento  of  its  past  beauty  or  fragrance. 

Such  is  life;  all  forms  must  change.  Minds  susceptible 
of  thought  will  grow  out  into  new  and  untried  channels 
awakening  to  new  ideas,  new  revelations  inspired  to  act 


25 

from  a  uew  and  iindefined  impulse  which  do  Dot  harmouize 
with  the  old;  feeling  that  the  old  is  too  narrow,  too  con- 
fining for  their  capacity,  and  like  an  olden  garment  does 
not  fit  easily  or  gi-acefully,  but  cramps  and  feels  uncom- 
fortable. NVouhl  you  com])el  any  one  to  wear  a  garment 
they  had  outgrown;  then  why  confine  minds  enlarged  to 
submit  to  conditions  they  feci  altogether  too  narrow  for 
their  capacity. 

If  WG  rea.son,  let  us  reason  honestly.  If  o!ie  is  necessary 
for  physical  life,  surely  the  other  is  necessary  for  spiritual 
life;  for  the  natural  and  spiritual  are  so  nearly  blended 
that  we  cannot  mar  the  one  without  injury  to  the  other. 
Therefore,  to  grow  beautiful,  Ave  must  allow  tbe  spiritual 
to  unfold  in  goodness  and  freedom,  believing  that  an  en- 
hirged  spiritual  condition  will  produce  a  harmonious, 
physical  organization  as  a  healthy,  well-developed  body 
produces  a  free  and  independent  spirit.  These  conditions 
have  not  been  rightly  understood,  and  a  new  era  of  ex- 
istence is  beginning  to  unfold  to  the  wants  of  man.  There 
are  a  great  many  obstacles  to  be  overcome  to  remove  the 
useless  forms  and  ceremonies  of  past  ages,  when  the  world 
in  its  undeveloped  condition  worked  through  the  material 
more  than  the  spiritual,  and  might  rather  than  right  gov- 
erned the  world.  When  Fume's  Age  of  Reason  broke  upon 
the  world  its  flood  of  light,  and  opened  a  channel  for 
thinking  minds,  how  the  blood-hounds  of  oppression 
howled  down  one  of  the  greatest  men  of  the  age.  They 
could  not  find  language  strong  enough  to  anathematize 
his  name,  but  not  a  word  for  his  sell-sacrifice  and  noble- 
ness of  heart  for  our  countrj^'s  welfare  in  her  darkest 
hour.  No,  the  trial  was  over  and  the  country  saved ;  he 
was  no  longer  needed  to  protect  them  by  his  voice,  and 
pen,  and  arm. 

They  were  now  ready  to  destroy,  ah!  even  annihilate  the 
very  name  of  Paine,  whose  soul  soared  above  the  ignorance 
and  bigotry  of  the  day  and  went  out  to  the  great  future, 
when  the  minds  of  men  should  be  loosed  still  further  from 
the  bondage  of  creeds.  Trul}-,  that  man's  day  is  yet  to 
come — when  men  shall  reverence  and  love  him  as  an  in- 
spired and  crucified  man.  His  name  is  immortalized  on 
the  records  of  time  and  eternity. 

How  difierent  has  tiie  world  recognized  us.  Still  we 
were  both  led  b}'  the  power  of  God  thi-ough  the  angel- 
world  in  our  difierent  spheres.  He  was  guided  to  his 
work  b}'  the  great  spiritual  light  given  him,  and  expressed 
what  to  him  was  a  truth;  standing  alone  with  the  unseen 
world  on  one  side,  and  the  darkness,  superstition  and  big- 


20 

otrj  of  a  cold,  heartless  world  on  the  other.  Oh  !  could 
you  see  him  to-dav  as  hs  lifts  the  veil  of  obscurity  from 
the  minds  of  the  people  as  they  are  awakening  to  a  condi- 
tion to  see  the  truth  of  that  great  and  inspire.d  work,  the 
Age  of  EeasoD, — you  would  see  a  soul  alive  for  the  great 
truth  of  freedom  of  thought,  an  elevation  of  soul  to  higher 
and  holier  principles.  To-day,  'Tom  Paine,'"  the  infidel,  as 
he  has  been  ingloriously  called  by  the  clergy  and  all 
christian  sects,  stands  far  above  those  who  have  tried  to 
climb  into  heaven  on  his  ruins.  His  independence  and 
candor  should  have  been  enough  to  have  commanded  at 
least  the  respect  of  those  who  were  dependent  upon  him 
for  the  liberty  they  now  possessed,  to  worship  God  after 
the  dictates  of  their  own  hearts,  truly,  they  were  blind 
to  their  own  welfare,  for  as  they  were  emerging  from  op- 
pression into  liberty,  their  first  assault  was  upon  the  one 
who  had  been  my  best  friend  and  adviser,  and  their  great 
friend  in  their  sorest  time  of  need.  And  for  the  same 
reason  did  they  persecute  him,  while  making  a  father  of 
me,  made  a  demon  of  him.  What  terrible  revolutions 
must  take  place  before  the  true  light  appears.  Thus  it 
has  been  with  all  great  and  advanced  minds  ;  the  world 
cannot  understand  them  until  thev  have  passed  on,  and 
then  they  begin  to  grow  up  to  a  condition  to  understand 
and  appreciate  them. 

Yes,  your  beloved  Washington,  as  you  call  me,  feels 
proud  of  the  association  of  Thomas  Paine  in  this  life,  and 
in  the  great  spiritual  harmony  of  the  spheres.  We  are 
co-workers  in  this  great  spiritual  field  of  reform,  and  many 
are  the  blest  associations  as  we  still  work  on  in  the  true 
mission  of  liberty,  of  thought  and  speech — he  in  his  sphere 
of  usefulness  and  advancement,  and  I  in  mine  of  har- 
monizing and  elevating.  I,  for  the  times  in  Avhich  I  lived, 
and  he  in  advance,  leading  the  way  to  future  events. 


SECTION  FOURTH. 


We  are  now  preparing  for  a  newer  and  higher  develop- 
ment in  the  spheres.  Our  elevation  depends  wholly  upon 
our  progress  in  this  life.  I  feel  now  while  giving  this  in- 
troductory of  my  reception  and  progress,  and  duties  in 
spirit  life,  that  I  do  neither  justice  to  myself  or  the  won- 


27 

derful  surroundings  through  wliicb  I  have  passed  during 
my  spiritual  life,  but  as  I  was  a  plain  spoken  and  candid 
man  in  oarth-lit'e,  I  tind  that  I  cannot  elaborate  of  the  won- 
derful and  beautiful  in  the  spheres  as  some  might  do  with 
the  same  knowledge.  I  still  feel  that.jdain  facts  are  better 
understood,  and  that  we  can  draw  nearer  to  the  true  soul 
of  man,  by  leading  hira  up  gently  and  naturally  to  a  truth 
which  has  been  too  long  buried  by  strange  depressions 
and  elevations,  and  by  prophetic  visions  which  could  not 
be  reached  by  reason  and  harmonious  law. 

The  great  princij^le  of  all  life,  the  universal  spirit  of  all 
matt<:r,  whether  spiritual  or  material,  the  Divine  Architect 
of  all,  has  always  led  and  will  always  lead  us  and  all  things 
up  through  the  developing  process  of  growth,  of  knowledge 
and  spiritual  advancement.  It  is  the  inevitable  law^  of  life 
and  regeneration.  Production  and  reproduction  can  never 
cease  in  the  material,  and  will  be  wrought  out  in  beauty 
and  perfectness  in  the  spiritual  spheres. 

Here  we  again  become  co-workers  in  the  beautiful 
spheres  of  s|>irit-life,  each  and  all  in  his  own  capacity  for 
blending  and  arranging  w-hat  to  him  or  her  has  the  most 
attractions.  Thus,  you  will  find  spirits,  coming  to  earth 
with  a  different  phase  of  power  controlling  those  mediums 
whose  organization  is  best  adapted  and  congenitd  to  their 
influence.  All  mediums  are  not  controlled  alike.  They 
do  not  look  or  think  alike,  naturally,  and  are  not  controlled 
by  spirits  Avith  the  same  desires  Thus,  you  see  some  are 
controlled  to  speak,  some  to  write,  some  to  move  physical 
or  material  bodies,  others  to  rap,  some  for  language, 
painting,  surveying,  geological,  astronomical,  seeing  of 
spirits,  describing  friends  or  strangers,  showing  the  posi- 
tive and  negative  forces  of  life;  in  fact,  all  and  every  phase 
has  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  earth. 

I  have  wandered  long  from  my  beautiful  sphere  home, 
finding  so  much  to  attract  me  to  my  early  associations.  I 
will  now  lead  back  in  thought  to  those  who  wish  to  follow 
me  through  the  labyrinthian  to  beautiful  worlds  of  liuht 
and  knowledge  which  1  have  been  permitted  to  enjoy  since 
I  left  your  sphere  of  materiality. 

I  am  now  passing  beyond  those  scenes  I  gave  you  of 
sphere  life,  and  tind  myself  resting  to  behold  the  wonders 
of  God's  great  universe. 

From  this  locality  I  seem  to  scan  all  things,  1  feel  able 
to  comprehend  all  things,  my  being  takes  in  as  it  were  all 
life,"  and  still  I  feel  drawn  with  an  irresistible  force  to 
some  locality  where  I  am  to  witness  the  great  law  which 
governs  all  things.     I  feel  an   incomprehensible  Jaw  per- 


28 

vading  my  beiug  ;  I  am  not  alone  ;  I  see  millions  of 
bright  spirits  and  my  own  dear  friends  all  about  me  guiding 
me  on  in  this  wonderful  sphere  of  life.  Oh!  God,  thou 
infinite,  shall  I  ever  behold  thee  more  fully  in  thy  works 
than  in  this  wonderful  grandeur  and  sublimity,  this  hap- 
piness and  harmony  that  pervades  all  things,  and  of  gorgeous 
scenery,  and  artistic  beauty.  I  seem  to  come  en  rapport 
with  ail,  yet  so  distinctly  define  everything,  that  1  lose  my- 
self in  the  hum  of  angel  voices,  the  angelic  choristers  of 
the  heavenly  spheres.  Shall  we  ever  cease  to  grow  or 
desire  more.  We  feel  sometimes  that  wo  have  enough 
and  should  suftbcate  with  more,  and  for  a  while  are  at 
rest.  But  again  we  find  ourselves  hungering  and  thirsting 
with  other  desires  ;  we  cannot  enjoy  all  at  once,  and 
therefore  receive  oulj^  such  as  our  capacity  is  fitted  to  en- 
joy, continually  growing  to  meet  the  conditions  through 
which  we  are  to  pass.  We  commence  life  with  but  few 
wants,  and  receive  all  that  is  necessary  as  we  grow.  So 
also  in  the  spiritual  life,  the  infant  draws  to  itself  all  that 
it  needs  as  it  develops  into  full  spiritual  existence.  Thus, 
vou  see,  that 'though  I  am  blest  beyond  expression,  still 
i  know  that  I  shall  become  acquainted  with  ray  sur- 
roundings and  be  led  to  other  scenes  throughout  illimit- 
able spnce, — returning,  shall  carry  the  fruits  of  knowledge 
to  those  who  are  following  up  through  the  wonderful,  the 
beautiful  of  God's  great  kingdom. 

We  shall  never  cease  to  learn  or  lose  the  desire  to  know 
more.  That  law  of  impulse  that  soars  to  unknown  realms 
in  earth-life,  never  ceases  in  sphere-life  ;  it  is  the  infinite 
placed  within  us  that  never  dies;  that  that  moves  us  in- 
spirationally  onward  forever  and  ever. 

When  the  form  through  which  inspiration  is  given  is 
weakened  or  destroyed,  it  may  act  no  longer,  but  takes  to 
itself  a  form  through  which  it  can  work  in  its  progress 
throughout  eternal  ages. 

When  the  aged  can  no  longer  gather  up  the  beauty  and 
knowledge  of  earth,  because  of  their  phjsical  and  mental 
decay,  then  does  the  spirit  revel  again  in  the  knowledge  of 
past  experiences  of  love  and  happiness,  living  over  again 
those  bright  and  happy  associations,  reviewing  the  past 
to  prepare  it  to  be  linked  to  the  spiritual,  when  the  worn- 
out  casket  is  broken,  and  it  is  released  from  the  confine- 
ment of  material  that  is  no  longer  needed  to  protect  or 
develop  the  soul,  'truly,  there  is  nothing  lost,  for  the 
spirit  takes  to  itself  all  that  it  has  gathered  of  experience  or 
hapj)iness  while  inhabitinu  the  form;  carrying  its  treasures 
to  its  spirit-home,  there  to  blend  and  beautify  in  its  future 


29 

growth  and  associations  in  the  spheres.  Also,  the  mate- 
rial, though  falling  to  decay,  is  not  lost;  for  each  and 
every  particle  has  its  place,  its  mission,  a  new  field  of 
action  through  which  new  forms  will  take  possession  to 
work  out  new  developments.  Thus,  there  is  continuation 
of  life,  giving  variety  and  beauty  through  thi.=4  ever  working 
law  of  the  infinite  which  I  was  not  permitted  to  know  by 
education,  and  only  felt  in  the  inspiration  of  the  soul. 

Had  1  known  how  to  have  cultivated  this  spiritual  know- 
ledge, it  would  have  advanced  me  on  the  spiritual  plane 
of  intelligence.  Oh!  man  of  this  day,  how  blest  is  your  lot 
in  the  free  investigation  of  the  spiritual  influx  into  the 
darkened  atmosphere  of  your  life.  Sure  and  steadfast  are 
principles  attracted  to  like  principles;  and  as  the  unfolding 
bud  reaches  out  its  tiny  leaves  to  the  atmosphere  until  it 
is  unfolded  in  all  its  beauty  and  fragrance,  so  the  same  law 
draws  us  on  to  our  higher  unfoldment.  It  is  a  growth  of 
soul,  a  continuation  throughout  eternity.  Shall  wisdom 
cease  at  the  threshold  of  eternity,  and  if  so,  why  this 
longing  after  something  we  do  not  find  in  earth  life? 

Surely  earth  has  sufficient  for  the  material  wants  of 
man,  and  if  he  ceases  to  gather  enough  to  place  him  at 
once  in  paradise,  then  his  wants  can  be  supplied  at  his 
mother's  bosom — his  earthly  home.  Nature  is  bountiful 
in  her  supplies  of  all  material  things,  and  our  spiritual 
teachings  have  been  of  a  Savior  to  redeem  the  world, 
leaving  nothing  for  us  to  do  throughout  the  ages  of  eter- 
nity. Will  that  be  bliss?  Can  we  feel  that  this  is  all  we 
were  designed  for?  No,  God  forbid.  I  know  that  every 
soul,  properly  understanding  his  needs,  will  never  wish  to 
bo  a  drone  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  but  will  gather  hap- 
piness by  being  a  worker  in  the  great  universe.  Inspira- 
tion is  food  that  feeds  the  hungry  soul  and  gives  nourish- 
ment to  the  spiritual  life,  it  is  the  unbroken  link  which 
binds  us  to  the  immortal,  and  throuii:li  it  the  departed 
friends  can  minister  to  the  wants  of  men.  I  iind  other 
spheres  or  planets  are  blending  with  our  own  ;  beings  of 
angelic  brightness  visit  and  revisit  our  sphere,  and  speak 
of  wondrous  beauty  surrounding  them.  They  speak  of  the 
wonderful  revelations  in  their  world  of  changes,  of  pro- 
gressive developments,  records  of  past  life  in  the  lower 
spheres,  showing  plainly  that  all  planets  are  formed  by 
gradual  process  until  they  have  passed  on  and  resolved 
into  a  higher  altitude  of  spiritual  existence.  Forms  of  life 
are  similar  to  those  of  our  earth  ;  they  are  living  evidence 
of  what  this  earth  is  yet  to  be,  Man  will  yet  stand  re- 
vealed in  so  harmonious  a  condition  while  in  the  form, 


30 

that  he  will  perfectly  recognize  the  spiritual  condition  of 
all  the  elements  of  his  surrounding,  and  will  be  cognizant 
of  the  mission  of  anticls,  and  will  be  in  harmony  with  the 
spiritual. 

Education  is  fast  becoming  general,  and  humane  man 
begins  to  realize  that  he  has  been  a  stranger  to  himself, 
and  studying  outside  of  the  true  element  of  life,  he  finds 
that  he  is  not  acquainted  with  himself,  for  he  is  never  at 
home,  and  when  at  home  does  not  make  himself  acquainted 
with  the  edifice  which  he  inhabits.  If  it  gets  out  of  repair 
he  has  to  call  a  mechanic  to  put  it  in  order. 

Little  by  little  truth  comes  in  upon  u^;,  until  like  the  sun's 
rays,  we  hope  soon  to  see  it  fully  illuminating  and  giving  to 
all  functions  a  free  and  full  use,  learn  us  the  wonderful 
beauty  and  use  of  all  our  faculties,  and  bring  them  up  to 
the  requirements  originally  designed. 

"Give,  and  ye  shall  receive  more  abundantly,"  was  the 
teaching  of  an  inspired  man;  and  we  have  found  the  truth 
of  that  remark  in  spiritual  faith  as  well  as  in  physical  life. 

Truly,  it  is  blessed  to  give  as  well  as  receive,  for  if  you 
do  good  unto  others,  you  will  receive  two-fold;  first,  in  the 
happiness  derived,  and  also  by  making  room  for  some- 
thing new  to  fill  the  place  of  the  old,  which  you  no  longer 
needed,  thereby  giving  to  others  what  was  only  given  to 
you,  until  you  no  longer  needed  it.  Be  not  selfish,  as  it 
contracts  the  noble  impulses  of  your  nature.  The  miser 
is  most  miserable,  living  in  constant  fear  of  every  one, 
suspicious  of  all,  until  he  weaves  himself  a  net  of  wretched- 
ness from  which  he  cannot  extricate  himself,  and  dies 
alone,  perishing  beside  the  demon  avarice,  without  friend- 
ship or  care. 

What  a  weight  drags  that  sjyirit  down  to  earth;  a  weight 
mightier  than  mountains,  gathering  his  own  darkness  from 
his  undeveloped,  selfish  condition. 

Seeing  but  one  thing,  having  but  one  desire,  binds  the 
soul  in  chains  and  bondage  while  on  earth,  and  draus  it 
to  a  darkened  condition  in  sphere-life,  there  to  await  re- 
lease by  a  gradual,  spiritual  development. 

Thus  the  Bible  illustration  that  it  was  "easier  for  a  camel 
(or  cable,  as  it  was  intended  to  be  read,)  to  go  through  the 
eye  of  a  needle,  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  heaven" — for  he  has  rendered  himself  so  inhar- 
monious to  true  simplicity  and  God-like  trust  in  the  infi- 
nite spirit,  that  it  is  impossible  to  rid  himself  of  the  im- 
portance of  self  agrandizement.  His  God  is  his  money, 
and  the  influence  it  brings  is  his  happiness.  He  knows 
no  other  God,  and  recognizes  no  power  but  the  power  of 


31 

wealth  and  its  intiueuce.  They  sto,nd  an  impenetrable  wall 
between  him  and  the  spiiit-world,  for  he  scorns  to  listen 
to  the  silent  teachings  of  ministering  angels.  But  when 
sickness  comes,  or  riches  take  to  themselves  wings  and  llj 
away,  then  comes  the  silent  monitor  to  awaken  the  sleepy 
senses  of  thought  and  reason;  reflection  with  its  long  train 
of  regrets  comes  to  arouse  the  dormant  faculties  of  the 
mind.  Friends  that  basked  in  the  sunshine  of  his  pros- 
perity, are  cold  and  distant,  adding  insult  by  their  pity 
and  neglect.  Little  b}-  little  is  the  soul  aroused  to  a  full 
consciousness  of  past  neglect  of  the  need  of  life's  blessings, 
until  it  shrinks  from  its  former  surroundings,  looking  lor 
the  first  time  to  a  higher  source  of  light  and  truth,  and 
reaches  out  its  aspirations  to  a  higher  and  holier  jjiinciple. 
How  little  has  life  been  understood;  its  principles,  its 
bearings  and  surroundings  upon  other  elements  iind  asso- 
ciations of  life.  We  are  constantly  repelling  or  attracting 
other  elements;  we  are  not  independent  beings,  but  are 
constantly  dependent  one  upon  anotiier,  as  children  of  one 
great  family,  anil  cannot  do  a  wnmg  to  ourselves  without 
injury  to  others  surrounding  us.  In  marring  God's  beauti- 
ful structure  you  render  inharmony  to  others,  and  break 
the  beautiful  links  which  serve  as  ladders  to  reach  the 
upper  realms. 

How  much  good  a  happy,  bright  countenance  gives  to 
those  who  look  upon  it.  It  is  like  sunshine  beaming 
through  a  cloud.  It  drives  darkness  and  gloom  from  its 
presence,  and  gives  gladness  and  joy  to  hearts  filled  with 
sadness.  It  is  like  ti  light  set  upon  a  hill  to  guide  the 
wanderer.  We  are  feeding  the  world  with  crumbs,  while 
the  food  for  the  soul  lies  buried  beneath  the  rubbish  of 
forms  and  pride,  withholding  the  true  wealth  that  was  given 
by  God  to  bestow  upon  hum;. nit}'  without  money  or  price. 
How  often  does  the  soul  languish  for  sympathy  and 
friendship  while  surrounded  with  all  that  wealth  can  buy, 
and  starve  v/ith  abundance  because  not  understood,  because 
education  has  made  conventional  rules  that  must  be  obeyed. 
It  has  visited  bodies  not  souls,  and  they  must  remain  im- 
prisoned like  caged  birds,  or  break  through  and  be  doomed 
to  eternal  .scorn  and  neglect  by  the  bigoted  world,  for  daring 
to  be  free.  Why  not  imprison  the  sunlight,  or  the  Avinds, 
or  the  bounding  ocean,  as  to  cramp  the  soul  in  its  inspira- 
tional yearnings  after  freedom.  Parents  who  compel  their 
daughters  to  unite  with  one  who  is  mentally,  phj-sically  or 
inspirationally  deficient,  because  he  has  money  or  influence, 
commit  a  sin  which  can  never  be  atoned.  They  have  placed 
her  in  bondage,  from  which   there  is  no  escape,  except 


32 

through  infamy  or  death.  The  world  has  striven  to  becoroe 
unnatural,  to  work  against  her  laws,  and  thus  destroy  the 
harmony  of  her  beautiful  surroundings. 

Light  gives  to  our  senses  a  beautiful  world,  filled  with 
ail  that  is  necessary  for  the  wants  of  man,  and  we  grasp  at 
such  things  as  will  satisfy  the  demands  of  nature;  but, 
spiritually,  we  do  not  see  the  working  or  propelling  power 
of  these  creations.  Yet  silently  are  these  little,  spiritual 
messengers  doing  their  work,  producing  what  we  see  and 
know.  In  the  material  life  we  only  look  at  the  result,  not 
the  cause  and  effect  which  produces  them. 

The  world  has  accepted  without  giving  thought  how 
these  were  placed  here.  They  have  blindly  listened  to 
ancient  records  of  its  formations,  and  rested  satisfied  to  be 
and  die,  running  the  risk  of  a  hell  or  heaven — have  remained 
in  stupid  ignorance  of  laws  governing  themselves,  and 
trusted  their  soul's  salvation  to  a  few  pampered  priests, 
who  had  learned  just  enough  to  make  them  selfish  and 
cunning,  teaching  them  to  withhold  light  and  truth  from 
the  people;  tiius  holding  them  in  superstition  and  ifruo- 
rat)ce,  knowing  that  this  would  hold  them  in  their  power. 

I  say  to  the  world  to-day,  let  the  light  shine  that  all  may 
see.  Sow  broadcast  the  truth  of  God's  universal  love  and 
brotherhood,  not  select  an  oldest  brother  to  inherit  all  by 
entailment,  but  let  all  be  given  an  equal  opportunity  to 
receive,  and  learn,  and  act  freely  and  socially,  yet  inde- 
pendently, like  reasonable  beings.  A  few  advanced  minds 
have  worked  nobly  through  these  generations,  and  to  such 
the  world  owes  much.  They  have  remained  steadfast,  as 
the  needle  to  the  pole,  to  such  things  as  they  conceived  to 
be  truths,  and  thus  opened  the  way  for  others  to  walk. 

They  have  driven  back  the  bigotry  and  ojipression  of 
the  past  and  present,  and  are  now  beginning  to  arouse 
thousands,  ah!  millions  of  minds,  where  only  a  handful! 
dared  express  or  think  freely. 

We  see  great  efforts  being  made  to  overthrow  this  en- 
lightened movement  for  liberty  of  speech  or  action,  and 
the  consequent  result  v/ill  be  a  revolution— a  war  of  sects 
and  creeds  against  light  and  reason,  of  tyranny  and  op- 
pression against  liberty  and  freedom. 

The  time  is  not  far  distant,  wlien  there  will  be  a  general 
uprising  of  the  powers  of  church  against  free  speech  and 
spiritual  light  and  freedom.  They  are  secretly  uniting  to 
overthrow  God's  holy  temple  and  sacrifice  His  children  to 
their  god  of  ambition,  ignorance  and  lust.  But  they  count 
without  their  ho.4,  for  the  true  and  universal  God  has 
opened  a  channel  which    bigotry   had  hedged  up  by  as- 


33 

Burning  to  tako  God's  pl;\ce,  anil  selling  liberties  to  those 
whose  t'roedorn  was  equal  to  their  own;  acting  as  iigents  of 
God  to  buy  and  sell  souls,  thereby,  enslaving  bodies  and 
souls  to  their  lust,  deceit  and  cruelty. 

SECTION  FIVE. 

It  is  time  the  world  was  aroii.<ed  to  a  sense  of  its  wrongs 
and  darkness;  that  spirits  from  a  higher  sphere  opened  a 
channel,  whereby  men  might  be  awakened  to  the  truth  of 
reason  and  knowhulgo  from  a  higher  standpoint,  when 
bigotry  and  oppression  will  loose  its  power,  and  love  and 
charity  look  upon  us  all  as  children  of  one  father. 

The  door  has  been  opened  wide,  and  children  of  spirit- 
life  can  visit  and  revisit  the  loved  ones  of  earth,  and  reach 
out  to  them  the  helping  hand  of  love  and  afl'ection.  Bars 
can  no  longer  debar  the  sweet  communion  of  souls;  no 
dungeons  or  rocks  can  stay  them;  prison  bars  cannot  bind 
them,  for  God  liveth  to-day  in  all  his  glory,  and  will  lead 
them  out  to  the  astonishment  of  those  who  assume  to 
oppress  or  oppose  his  inspirational  teachings.  They 
preach  from  a  work  of  their  own  invention,  and  call  it 
God's  holy  book;  and  yet  neither  follow  its  teachings  or 
the  one  they  call  Savior  God,  but  blindly  destroy  its 
most  angelic  beauty,  and  howd  its  terrors  into  the  ears  of 
those  who  are  not  allowed  to  read  it  understandingly,  know- 
ing it  would  expose  their  baseness — "  God  forgive  them, 
for  they  know  not  what  they  do "  as  the  Nazarene  said 
upon  the  cross.  Trials  and  temptations  bring  out  the 
true  elements  of  life.  Had  all  enabling  thoughts  been 
burned  without  utterance,  where  would  be  the  progress  of 
art  and  science.  Scientific  minds  being  free  and  indepen- 
dent, have  brought  the  world  to  its  present  stamlpoint; 
have  revolutionized  the  world  in  scientific  research  and 
mechanism;  the  elevation  of  mind  equalizing  the  social, 
moral  and  spiritual  of  men  and  women — equal  on  the  same 
plane  of  development — giving  to  each  all  that  they  are 
capable  of  recuiving  in  intellectual  or  moral  capacity. 

These  conditions  have  not  been  understood  and  recog- 
nized, that  woman  should  stand  equal  with  man;  he  may 
have  more  of  the  grossness  of  physical  nature,  but  she 
certainly  has  more  of  the  spiritual  or  refined,  to  overcome 
his  physical  with;  they  are  necessary  to  each  other — she 
needing  his  stronger  positive  forces  to  strengthen  her,  and 
ho  more  of  her  spiritual  nature  to  elevate  him  to  a  higher 
and  more  refined  condition.  I  would  that  all  could  come 
to  a  knowlotlge  of  the  great  truth  of  life  as  a  principle,  and 
God  as  the  all-pervading  spirit  or  intelligence,  permeating 


34 

all  matter  developing  the  material  into  beautiful  forms  of 
growth,  showing  the  wonderful  in  his  works  by  variety  of 
form  and  color,  of  taste  and  expression. 

All  recognize  a  divine  hand  or  intelligence  guiding  them. 
"  Wonderful  are  Thy  works,  oh!  God,"  who  giveth  such* 
abundance  for  all,  freely  and  without  cost;  and  yet  his  child- 
.reu  are  suffering  for  nourishment,  both  physically  and 
spiritually,  because  man's  power  (not  God's)  has  monopo- 
lized the  earth,  and  graspod  to  themselves  that  which 
belongs  to  all.  Who  gave  the  right  to  buy  and  sell  that 
which  belongs  to  God?  The  same  that  pretend  to  hold 
the  keys  to  heaven.  They  assume  the  power  to  enslave 
body  and  soul,  whereby  the  elements  of  lower  physical 
condition  may  manifest  themselves  by  antagonistic  fo'rce — 
the  stronger  oppressing  the  weak. 

When  liberal  education  and  honest  investigation  can 
take  the  place  of  sectarian  creeds  and  bigoted  oppression, 
then  will  men  begin  to  awaken  to  a  new  life,  and  new  reali- 
zation of  God  and  his  kingdom;  his  universal  gifts  to  men 
us  an  intelligent  and  spiritual  being,  who  is  to  act  a  part 
in  the  great  drama  of  life;  not  a  being  to  be  suppressed 
by  man,  but  an  equal  as  far  as  he  is  capable  of  being 
educated  or  advanced. 

Therefore  man  should  be  educated  in  the  elevation  of 
all  his  natural,  moral  and  spiritual  gifts.  Thert'  is  no 
darkness  in  God's  great  universe;  no  hidden  laboratory 
where  he  manufactures  or  creates  Avorlds  or  beings,  but 
a  beautiful  and  general  revelation  of  all  his  works  ever 
before  the  eyes  of  all,  where  they  may  study  through  his 
works,  up  to  the  divine  principle — God,  God  works  not 
in  secret;  has  no  secret  machinations  to  show  to  a  few, 
while  the  multitude  are  in  ignorance  of  his  beautiful  law 
showing  to  man  that  all  are  recipients  of  his  love  and 
mercy. 

When  man  becomes  more  spiritual,  more  refined  by  a 
true  revelation,  then  will  he  understand  the  meaning  of 
God  and  his  universal  laws,  finding  that  happiness  does 
not  wholly  depend  upon  his  prosperity  here  in  material 
matters,  but  that  conditions  of  mind  are  the  most  beauti- 
ful when  we  have  been  enabled  to  do  the  most  good  to  our 
brother  man.  To  be  spiritual  and  god-like,  man  is  not 
required  to  become  unnatural,  but  to  be  natural  in  all  his 
gifts  wrought  into  refinement.  Many  suppose,  to  be 
natural,  man  must  be  uncouth  and  rough  with  no  refiue- 
mont.  It  is  not  so;  to  be  natural  is  to  develop  those  pow- 
ers that  have  been  given  up  to  a  condition  of  usefulness 
and    beauty— for  every-one  has  something  l)eautiful    and 


36 

divine  in  his  being.  To  draw  it  forth,  it  must  be  wrought 
upon  with  a  gentle  hand  of  encourairement,  giving  them 
confidence  in  themselves  of  some  -worth.  The  manner  of 
education  has  been  a  distortinir  of  the  beautiful  gifts  of 
nature,  and  cruelly  substituting  unnatural  and  artificial 
for  the  real.  Has  not  nature  in  her  great  laboratory  pro- 
duced the  most  beautiful  and  wonderful  productions  in 
every  phase.  Man  may  assist,  bat  never  out-do  nature; 
he  can  never  deviate  without  marring  her  luDinonious  con- 
ditions. The  true  education  of  the  world  has  been  retard- 
ed for  the  want  of  a  more  spiritual  condition;  man  has 
attempted  to  stand  alone,  making  himself  iudei)endent  of 
Qod,  only  recognizing  him  as  a  being  to  save  him  from 
some  unknown  suffering  beyond  the  tomb.  He  has  not 
recognized  him  in  all  his  works  or  in  his  life  as  a  part  of 
his  creation,  and  consequently  has  lived  without  God  while 
in  health  and  prosperity;  therefore  has  only  lived  a  half 
of  life,  (that  being  the  physical)  the  spiritual  having  slum- 
bered for  want  of  recognition. 

When  the  mind  of  man  becomes  darkened  from  doubt,  it 
weaves  a  web  of  wretchedness,  that  obscures  the  beautiful 
light  of  God's  face,  giving  a  feeling  of  loneliness  and  deso- 
lation. When  we  can  see  an  All-wise  providence  leading 
us  on,  can  feel  the  touch  of  angel  fingers,  we  shall  look  up 
again  in  confidence  like  children  feeling  safe  from  harm, 
as  when  held  by  a  loving  mother,  and  feel  that  wo  are 
being  led  by  invisibles  to  the  home  of  immortals.  Of  our- 
selves, we  are  nothing;  but  blending  the  divine  power  of 
love  and  harmony,  we  come  en  rapporf  with  the  God  prin- 
ciple of  all  life.  It  is  then  that  we  are  led  to  do  those 
things  which  seem  so  mysterious  to  ourselves.  We  trust 
too  much  to  our  finite  condition,  and  grow  outwardly, 
groping  after  physical  life;  the  intention  or  inspirational 
has  not  been  understood,  and  consequently  not  cultivated. 
Since  the  advent  of  spiritualism,  men  begin  to  realize  an 
inner  being;  one  who  has  not  been  understood,  but  one 
that  deserves  our  greatest  attention,  for  upon  that  our 
happiness  and  progression  de])ends;  upon  it  the  cultiva- 
tion of  spiritual  gilts,  which  when  received,  are  given  to 
the  world  as  recognized  facts  of  a  universal,  spiritual 
intelligence.  Spiritual  science  then  opens  the  doors  of 
thought  to  investigation,  unlimited  and  free.  No  binding 
creeds  to  wall  up  the  soul's  best  and  truest  emotions,  but 
a  free,  full  and  trusting  confidence  in  the  fiiture  of  God's 
love  and  goodness. 

The  world  to  day  stands  out  to  the  enlightment  of  free 
thought,  every  individual — though  cramped  by  creeds — by 


36 

the  outward  form,  is  living  in  a  world  of  thought  within 
himself,  which  will  eventually  give  birth  to  a  greater  fviUness 
of  truth  and  beauty. 

Soou  will  the  mind  of  man  expand  to  an  independent  in- 
dividuality— life  is  beginning  to  wear  beauteous  rays  of 
light,  and""  hues  of  color,  which  will  blend,  and  mingle  in 
tlieir  divine  mission  of  harmony  with  God's  eternal  law. 
I  am  not  a  teacher,  but  a  practical  worker ;  and  am  merely 
giving  my  experience  of  things  as  I  see  them.  Much  has 
to  be  overcome,  to  bring  all  minds  to  bear  on  these  truths 
alike.  I  have  had  much  thought  upon  this  great  subject 
since  I  left  the  form,  and  feel  in  duty  bound  to  express  my- 
self to  the  world  in  as  plain  a  garb  as  possible.  We  are 
all  workers  together,  all  are  serving  out  a  mission  on  earth, 
to  be  renewed  in  a  sphere  or  locality  suited  to  their  condi- 
tion,and  will  rise  ultimately,  to  unite  at  the  opening  of  anew 
and  beautiful  region,  from  which  tran-^lations  are  no  more 
made;  by  which  they  revisit  their  earthly  abodes  in  form, 
but  an  electric  chain  of  light  irradiates  those  whom  they 
wish  to  control.  Influences  from  Deity  are  on  the  same 
principle,  and  all  life  is  given  through  this  radius. 

Language  of  these  spheres  are  eminations  of  electrical 
light,  which  sparkle  and  illuminate  the  spirits,  making 
them  look  like  seraphs  or  Gods  of  light. 

I  am  seeking  to  discover  the  manner  of  controlling  mor- 
tals, for  to  me  it  is  as  much  of  a  problem  as  to  those  of 
earth — soon  it  will  be  made  known,  and  then  we  will  im- 
part that  knowledge  to  you,  in  its  true  and  beautiful  sense. 

Thispowei-  of  control  grows  as  naturally  to  conditions,  as 
a  plant  or  beings  grow  from  birth  to  maturity;  or  intellect 
grows  to  understand  the  natural  life. 

The  knowledge  and  fact  of  controlling  a  mortal  bj  a 
spirit,  is  under  scientific  law,  and  when  fully  understood, 
will  become  as  natural  as  to  inhabit  your  earth . 

The  time  will  come  when  the  inhabitants  of  earth  will  feel 
drawn  towards  the  spirit-world,  while  yet  in  the  form,  as 
they  are  nov»-  attracted  to  different  portions  of  the  globe, 
and  will  as  readily  understand,  what  friend  is  near,  and 
the  friendly  recognition  will  be  as  reciprocal. 

Oh!  how^  beautitul;  how  divine.  Could  I  have  known 
these  things  while  guiding  my  army  through  those  perilous 
storms  during  that  dark  struggle,  how  it  would  have  glad- 
dened the  hearts  of  many  a  poor  comrade  who  bravely 
fought  for  freedom  of  body  while  he  felt  the  soul  jet  fainting 
in  bondage;  but  inspiration  for  the  cause  led  them  on  to 
victory,  and  those  wdio  fell  before  its  close  found  a  ransom 
on  this  other  shore.    But  when  they  attempted  to  get  back 


37 

to  hail  their  comrades  witli  joy,  tlioy  found  a  barrier  of 
superstition  hokliny  them  in  darkness  which  no  power  of 
their's  coukl  overcome,  as  the  day  had  not  dawned  upon 
their  spiritual  understanding,  and  all  minds  were  held  by 
tiio  fear  of  being  drawn  to  an  investigation  as  to  the  results 
of  eternal  destruction. 

Enough  has  been  said  to  cause  this  great  truth  of  life 
to  be  admitted  by  tliose  who  have  received  demonstrations 
of  such  a  character  as  to  prove  beyond  a  doubt  that  spiiitual 
matter  does  control  mortals,  and  that  intelligence  does  exist 
representing  different  conditions,  and  blending  with  man's 
thoughts,  and  controlling  him  while  yet  in  the  form,  is  also 
manifest  by  thousands  of  instances,  daily  growing  more  and 
more  clear  and  numerous  every  hour.  Why  should  a  spirit 
wish  to  deceive  ?  What  benefit  could  they  derive  from  such 
a  course? 

If  we  cannot  trust  God  to  guide  us  in  this  when  we 
earnestly  ask  for  truth,  what  can  wo  rely  upon  in  any  creed; 
for  are  they  not  all  as  liable  to  be  deceived  by  the  records 
of  the  past?  If  God  shows  not  himself  to-day  through  his 
angels  or  spirits  as  of  old,  can  we  believe  that  he  ever  did; 
must  we  not  reason  tliat  designing  man  gave  the  history 
called  the  Bible  to  man  for  the  purpose  of  holding  power 
over  those  they  wished  to  rule? 

If  God  did  come  then  in  the  angel  or  spirit  form,  and 
talk  and  walk  with  men,  can  he  not  now,  and  would  not 
His  revelation  be  greater  to  man  at  this  day,  than  those 
rusty  records,  even  if  they  contained  nothing  but  the  truth? 
If  the  truth  is  there,  it  certainly  lives  to-day  as  well  as  in 
ancient  times.  There  has  been  no  separation  of  Heaven 
from  earth  since  Bible  record,  and  we  have  not  heard  but 
that  the  good  go  straight  to  heaven  to-day  as  they  did  of 
old,  and  in  the  same  manner  through  the  dissolution  of 
the  flesh.  Men  are  born  into  the  material  life  and  pas3 
into  the  spiritual  the  same  as  in  the  Bible  times.  Then, 
why  should  God  withhold  His  spiritual  communications 
through  spirits  or  angels  unto  men  in  these  daj's,  and  de- 
cline to  give  the  same  gifts  that  were  promised  to  us  in 
Bible  times.  Why  give  to  one  generation  the  key  to  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  that  men  in  all  succeeding  generations 
must  be  subject  unto  them  for  their  knowledge  of  God  and 
the  future  life.  I  know  that  heaven  as  it  is  called,  or 
spiritual  life,  has  greater  divine  knowledge  to  impart  than 
has  ever  been  received,  and  if  men  would  read  the  Bible 
imderstaudingly,  like  any  other  book,  receiving  the  con- 
sistencies, and  laying  aside  the  absurdities,  they  would 
reach  the  beautiful  truths  illustrated  therein,  and" repel  the 


38 

exaggerated  accounts  given  as  they  do  anything  else  written 
that  does  not  blend  with  truth  and  reason. 

If  men  would  have  more  charity  for  their  brother-man, 
they  would  not  have  so  many  select  passages  laid  by  for 
their  brothers.  Seeing  the  mote  in  his  brother's  eye,  he 
has  a  place  fixed  for  him  and  a  scripture  text  adapted  to 
his  case.  Looking  for  motes  we  are  apt  to  forget  the  beams 
that  hold  us  down. 

Elevation  of  one's  self  from  self  is  the  surest  religion  to 
do  right.  Let  every  man  make  it  a  business  to  learn  him- 
self, and  he  will  learn  to  know  God,  for  God  lives  within 
every  one.  By  seeking  the  true,  the  good,  the  beautiful 
in  our  brother  man,  we  draw  out  the  same  in  our  own  soul 
or  interior  conscience. 

When  men  seek  to  destroy  all  the  nobleness  in  man's 
nature,  and  compel  him  to  believe  that  he  was  born  in  sin, 
conceived  in  iniquity,  you  have  dethroned  his  God-prin- 
ciple, and  placed  him  a  convict  upon  the  plane  of  condem- 
nation, to  walk  the  earth  a  criminal  befoie  his  God  and 
men:  causing  him  to  feel  that  he  is  doomed  and  can  do  no 
worse  than  find  a  hell  at  last  if  he  does  his  utmost  here  to 
enjoy  himself  at  the  expense  of  the  world.  Feeling  the 
conflict  of  injustice,  doubt  and  despair,  he  knows  he  must 
go  through  a  trying  ordeal  to  his  pride,  and  perhaps  not 
succeed  in  his  object  of  heaven.  Thousands,  yea,  millions 
of  noble  souls  have  become  desperate  and  committed  sins 
from  which  their  own  pure  souls  revolted,  and  would  never 
have  been  led  to  do  had  they  been  encouraged  and  uplifted 
b}'  education,  teaching  that  they  were  children  of  the  author 
of  all  existence,  with  the  same  divine  attributes  to  cultivate 
and  enlarge;  and  in  so  doing,  would  be  unfolding  in  this 
world  a  beautiful  book  of  life,  that  would  lead  tiiem  through 
a  labarynth  of  all  progression;  that  the  great  luminary  of 
life  was  eradiating  through  them  as  through  all  men;  that 
no  one  held  the  key  of  life,  but  that  each  and  all  were  ca- 
pable of  unlocking  its  treasures  as  fast  as  they  were  capable 
of  comprehending.  Enlarge  the  fields  oi'  knowledge  by 
giving  all  an  opportunity  of  general  information.  With- 
hold from  none  the  book  of  life,  the  opening  sceance  of 
interior  light  or  life  which  emanates  from  ourselves  and 
surrounds  us,  blending  with  all  the  attributes  of  nature 
and  of  God,  the  principle  of  all  life  permeating  all  things. 
The  beatiful  workm;inship  of  His  divine  hand  is  upon  all 
things  both  material  and  spiritual;  the  more  we  recognize 
it,  the  more  we  shall  become  reconciled  to  God  and  his 
beautiful  creations.  Everything  becomes  a  living  witness 
in  the  great  arcana  of  nature;  everything  is  a  link  binding 


39 

tho  visible  to  the  invisible.  No  one  thing  is  isolated  in  the 
great  architectural  structures  of  worlds  and  spheres- -all 
things  form  a  part  of  the  wonderful  to  man  in  God's  great 
universe.  Grains  of  sand  unite  to  form  mountains,  drops 
of  water  to  form  rivers,  lakes  and  oceans;  so  worlds  are 
formed  little  by  little.  Worlds  g-row  as  plants,  live  and 
breatlie  as  man;  it  is  one  life  in  diftbront  forms  whether 
it  be  worlds,  man,  animals  or  vegetables.  This  great  law 
must  be  understood  in  order  to  revolutionize  the  world  and 
bring  men  to  a  conception  of  tho  great  principle,  God. 

We  teach  the  salvation  of  all  men — no  losing  process, 
no  place  where  the  bottom  falls  out  and  carries  with  it  the 
many,  while  a  few  are  saved  by  a  mysterious  tie. 

If  one  be  saved,  all  are  saved;  they  may  be  scattered, 
but  they  \vill  find  their  place,  their  sphere  of  action,  as 
readily  as  a  child  is  drawn  to  its  nourishment  of  life.  If 
plants  know  how  to  grow,  why  not  men. 

If  it  is  not  knowledge,  then,  it  is  attraction  of  force  which 
draws  them  upward;  so  with  man,  if  he  have  not  knowledge, 
then  the  law  of  attraction  will  draw  him  to  his  own.  If  the 
warmth  and  genial  sunshine  could  enter  those  cold  walls 
of  brick  and  stone,  and  thaw  out  the  frozen  mummies  and 
memories  within,  and  cause  them  to  shed  abroad  a  more 
enliving  loving  impulse  of  brotherhood,  how  beautiful, 
how  fresh  would  life  be  divested  of  all  oppression  and 
fear — animated  with  joy  and  thanksgiving  to  the  great  and 
universal  giver  to  mankind  of  all  things. 

There  is  a  day  coming,  and  it  will  come  sooner  than  men 
think  of  to-day,  when  liberation  of  souls  will  give  an  impetus 
to  life,  which  will  thaw  tho  frozen  blood,  causing  it  to  warm 
up  tho  sympathies  of  humanity;  giving  love  and  trusting 
confidence,  where  now  is  only  hatred  and  distrust. 

My  work  is  nearly  done  for  this  volume,  as  my  dear 
mother  wishes  to  say  something  in  behalf  of  woman.* 

She  has  waited  patiently,  and  now  I  shall  control  but  a 
short  time  longer  for  this  volume.  My  dear  mother  has 
led  me  in  my  beautiful  ho\ue  as  of  old ;  not  cramping  my 
ideas,  but  blessing  with  soul  communion,  to  lead  me  up  to 
a  higher  knowledLie  of  truth.  Mother,  show  great  your  mis- 
sion !  It  never  ceases  to  sustain  us  through  the  labarynth- 
ian  ages.  We  shall  come  again  to  give  of  the  home  where 
angels  dwell,  and  blend,  as  far  as  in  our  power,  to  that  of 
earth.  We  must  awaken  man  out  of  his  sleep  of  death, 
and  arouse  him  to  a  sense  of  life — that  true  life,  which  it  is 
necessary  to  live  to  become  at  once  a  free  inhabitant  of 
our  spiritual  sphere. 

'  Mary  Wiisliinston's  Kxi)onoiK'os  in  Sjiiril  Spliprea.  was  not  written  until  187K.  They  will 
bo  publishi'd  in  due  time. 


40 

Thoughtfully  I  have  written  what  to  me  are  facts; hold- 
ing the  medium  in  a  semi-trance  state;  giving,  what,  to  her 
ha'^d  no  meaning  at  the  time,  but  became  interesting  as  she 
read  after  writing.  I  claim  the  privilege  of  giving  my 
testimony  in  favor  of  tliis  much  abused  religion,  for,  to  me, 
it  is  the  only  true  religion  when  spirit  can  predominate 
over  matter,  and  high  spiritual  intelligence  can  control 
mortals  to  give  their  own  thoughts  as  they  find  them,  to 
the  world.  If  you  believe  a  part,  you  must  believe  the 
whole.  If  the  Bible  has  truths,  and  angels  and  spirits 
spoke  to  man,  then  they  certainly  do  now.  We  are 
called  spirit — but  we  are  matter  refined — but  material  still; 
but  not  to  your  physical  eye.  The  long  dark  period  of 
man's  existence  is  passino-  away,  and  the  morning  of  a  new 
resurrection  is  taking  its  place,  when  all  eyes  shall  be 
made  to  see  God  in  his  works,  and  every  tree  and  flower 
shall  unite  to  praise  him,  the  universal  Father.  May  this 
work  be  properly  treated;  for  it  is  a  gift  I  have  long  de- 
sired to  give  the  world,  not  for  its  scientific  merits,  but  to 
express  my  own  thoughts  and  investigations  in  my  own 
way — plain  and  unvarnished.  When  I  come  again  I  shall 
give  more  from  my  spirit-home.  Until  then,  I  will  bid 
you  a  short  good  bye. 

May  all  good  angels  attend  you  through  this  life's  jour- 
ney. 

Yours  Fraternally. 

GEOEGE  WASHINGTON. 


What  is  life  ?  What  is  death  ?  One  is  the  bud,  the  other  the  blossom — 
eternity  the  ripe  fruit.  Why  then  try  to  retain  the  bud;  do  we  not  all 
look  forward  to  the  harvest  as  the  acme  of  all  our  liopes — but  as  the  tree 
is,  so  shall  the  bud,  blossom  and  fruit  be.  Look  then  to  the  tree;  live 
your  best  lives;  give  nothing  to  the  swine;  make  every  moment  a  gem  to 
shine  in  the  crown  awaiting  for  you.  Bring  your  best  thoughts  to  bear 
on  that  which  is  set  before  you — doing  each  day's  duty  grandly — not  with 
weak  hands  and  hanging  heads,  as  though  bound  for  the  felon's  death.  So 
act  and  live,  that  when  called  from  this  stage  of  action,  each  may  come 
bearing  a  full  sheaf  of  yellow  grain,  emblematic  of  a  bountiful  life  and  a 
glorious  resurrection. 

Yours,  in  the  faith, 

July  24th,  1878.  THOMAS  PAINE. 

Reynolds. 


COMMUNICATIONS. 


Dear  Brother  Thomas  ; 

We  are  all  here  to  give  you  greeting.  It  has  been  said  "When 
two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name,  there  will  I  be 
also."  Where  you  or  any  of  our  dear  friends  meet  together  in 
the  name  and  for  the  sake  of  truth  and  light,  knowledge  and 
love,  then  will  we — some  of  your  lo'ved  ones  from  the  realms  of 
peace  and  joy — be  with  you,  giving  wards  of  cheer  to  lighten 
and  brighten  your  pathway,  not  through  the  valley  and  shadow 
of  death,  but  through  life. 

May  God,  the  great  permeating  Spirit  of  Love,  throw  his  man- 
tle of  peace,  joy,  charity  and  good-will  to  all  men  around  you, 
and  may  you  use  the  blessing  for  the  highest  good  of  mankind. 

ELIZA.* 

April  2,  1S75.    Kkkns. 

*A  sister  who  passed  on  at  four  years  of  age,  in  1828. 


My  dear  friend  Clarke :  How  much  I  wish  to  take  you  by 
the  hand  and  bless  you,  and  to  talk  over  the  many  blessed 
things  that  have  risen  in  your  earthly  home.  I  feel  a  great 
desire  to  communicate  with  those  who  still  feel  that  we 
live  and  have  a  being.  It  is  such  a  pleasure  to  be  remem- 
bered, and  feel  that  thoughts  still  come  to  us  laden  with 
happy  recollections.  It  comes  like  a  balm  to  our  souls, 
and  fills  us  with  renewed  life.  But  when  we  go  to  our 
loved  ones  who  answer  back  with  a  knell  of  darkness  and 
doubt,  it  fills  us  with  sorrow  to  he  thus  repelled.  Oh! 
what  a  weight  will  be  lifted,  when  the  world  has  become 
awakened  to  the  true  knowlege  of  life  beyond  the  grave, 
with  a  recognition  of  our  presence  and  love.  Then  will 
the  millenium  come,  and  not  until  then.  How  many  times 
I  come  and  walk  over  the  old  places,  and  see  old  "friends 
who  used  to  be  so  happy  to  see  and  meet  me,  but  who 
know  me  not  though  I  am  with  them. 

But  with  you  it  is  a  glorious  treat;  for  though  you  see 
me  not,  yet  you  know  and  recognize  me  in  spirit.  I  am 
very  happy  to  see  you  at  your  present  work.  Our  loved 
Washington  has  just  left  in  his  heavenly  beauty  so  genial 
and  so  pleasant.  Your  work  is  telling  and  will  make  it- 
self known  upon  the  minds  of  the  people.  There  will  be 
a  wondrous  chan2:e  in  Oakland  in  the  next  few  years,  by 
which  many  will  be  convinced  of  the  truth  of  this  grand 
knowledge;  the  greatest  light  that  has  ever  been  given  to 
the  world.     Now,  dear  brother,  I  must  go,  blessing  you 

and  yours  with  love  to  all.  ^   , 

«p  O  P  p 
From  your  old  friend, 

HENKY  DURANT. 

May  I'J.  1878.     Hendkk. 


CAUfORMA,  LOS  AMQELfH 


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